Is it possible to be an ‘ex-jihadi’? How would we know? What about state-run efforts at ‘de-radicalisation’?
Borealis has a fascinating conversation with Jesse Morton, often described as the #1 Al Qaeda recruiter in the US in the mid 2000s and now very much involved in undermining Islamist terrorism.
If the ins and outs of terrorism, extremism, national security and public safety are of interest to you, subscribe to receive free content by former Canadian intelligence analyst and author Phil Gurski on these issues.
About my guest Jesse Morton
Jesse Morton was once a jihadist propagandist (then known as Younes Abdullah Muhammad) who ran Revolution Muslim, a New York City-based organization active in the 2000s that connected Muslims in the west to al-Qaeda’s ideology, creating English language propaganda and collaborating with the most notorious jihadist preachers of that era.
He deradicalized in 2011 and has worked since to become a leading commentator, interventionist and preventing and countering violent extremism innovator focused on jihadist, far-right and far-left wing extremism. Jesse was included in Foreign Policy Magazine’s 2017 ‘Global Thinkers’ listing and holds a master’s in Middle East studies from Columbia University along with licensure in substance-abuse and mental health counseling.
About the host Phil Gurski
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
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What should we do with the children of violent extremists: should they be taken from their parents?
Canada is underperforming badly on the global scene
Why has Canada abandoned its international reputation and commitments and what does it need to do to regain them?
Writing the great Canadian spy novel, from a SIGINT perspective
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