Last year’s Egyptian revolution and ouster of Hosni Mubarak has created new political opportunities for previously marginalized groups. Among these is the radical Islamist Jamaa Islamiya (literally “Islamic Group”), which has been accused of ties to Al-Qaeda and is treated as a terrorist group by American and European governments. As Egypt moves forward, a power struggle between secular and religious factions, including hardline Salafis, is becoming increasingly significant.

In this Faith Complex, Dr. Tawfik Hamid discusses his history with the Jamaa Islamiya as well as its present importance with host Ghazi bin Hamed. Dr. Hamid is a Senior Fellow and Chair for the Study of Islamic Radicalism at the Potomac Institute and author of Inside Jihad: Understanding and Confronting Radical Islam. A former Jamaa Islamiya recruit, Dr. Hamid now seeks to reform the radical Islamist threat through peaceful interpretations of Islamic texts.
 

Read more about Tawfik Hamid

Tawfik Hamid’s Official Website

Dr. Hamid’s Blog

Tawfik Hamid at the Potomac Institute