Maajid Nawaz On Australian TV

On the heels of a joint speaking engagement down under with Sam Harris, Maajid Nawaz appeared on Australian talk show ‘The Drum’. Non-Australians can now watch this online here.

Firstly, I think it’s great to see liberal, progressive Muslims like Maajid granted a platform on mainstream TV - rather than the usual rent-a-loons that are invited in the service of controversy, rather than discussion.

Nawaz, as always, shared some articulate views on extremism, secularism and the Islamist narrative. This brings me to another guest and ‘Human Rights Campaigner’, Sarah Saleh.

Keep in mind what Maajid Nawaz stands for and speaks clearly about on this TV appearance: anti-extremism, freedom of expression, human rights and secularism. Saleh’s response? She summarises Nawaz’s position as ‘extreme’. She also appears to have a hard time accepting that theocracy is a bad idea. “Surely you agree theocracy is wrong?” asks Nawaz. “Do I need to?” responds Saleh. At least she was helpful insofar as demonstrating the problem we have with so-called ‘moderate Muslims’.

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