The Islamist

As I read this acclaimed book by Ed Husain, I couldn't help notice the sheer amount of editorial mistakes: from the reckless typo and lazy capitalisation inconsistency to the culturally ignorant Arabic term cock-ups and the never-ending parenthesis. I wouldn't usually be so anal as to complain about these things if the publisher wasn't as affluent and prestigious as Penguin Books Ltd.

Oh yes, the book itself. Well, aside from making me pull my hair out, I did enjoy the book. 'Enjoy' is probably not the right word here in light of the fact that I was horrified by it. Let me say rather that the book is informative and relevant. It has a lot to say about the current state of Islamism, as well giving a good overview of the current state of modern Islam. It is the first book by a former Islamist and therefore offers a vital perspective.

It gave me priceless behind-the-scenes knowledge of things I always see but never give too much thought to, and he is the first to justify my old confusion of Wahabbis and Islamists, both of whom adopt the same puritanical and literalist brand of Islam. I always thought they were one and the same before I heard each condemn the other. Husain reveals how the prevalence of Wahabbi mosques, literature and proselytising helped create fertile ground for the growth of modern Islamism.

While he sings the praises of the West and its freedoms, there is an implicit criticism of the 'West' through his scathing attack on Saudi Arabia and Wahabbism. At least there was for me. It reminded me of the film Syriana that showed so effectively how no one is an innocent party in this current war on terror, and how, rather than a clash of civilisations, what is really happening is a clash of many egos at the top of the political power chain. If Britain truly wanted to stamp out extremism on its shores, it can ban anything coming in from Saudi Arabia, for a start, and decapitate the current terrorism beast in one fell swoop.

Husain is right to say that the freedoms enjoyed by Hizb-ut-Tahrir in Britain are at great odds with their ban and the imprisonment, toture and execution of its members in Arab countries. He makes the damning point that the Hizb wouldn't be where it is today, wouldn't be able to recuit and grow, if it wasn't for the freedom and welfare provided to it by Britain. The question remains how productive banning them would be.