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Dr. Tawfik Hamid (born 1961 in Cairo, Egypt) is an Egyptian-American physician, Muslim reformer, author, speaker, and activist against radical Islam. As a young man in 1979, he joined the Muslim Brotherhood and later the militant group al-Jama'a al-Islamiyya (JI), which was led by figures including Ayman al-Zawahiri, who later became a leader in al-Qaeda. In 1981, he experienced a profound conscience awakening when asked to commit violence against an innocent person, such as kidnapping and burying someone alive, leading him to leave the group, renounce extremism, and begin preaching reformist messages in mosques. This activism made him a target of threats from Islamic militants, prompting him to relocate to the United States.
Hamid earned his medical degree (MD) from an Egyptian university in 1985 and has worked as a physician while dedicating much of his career to countering radical Islam. He serves as a Senior Fellow and Chair for the Study of Islamic Radicalism at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, where he focuses on analyzing and combating Islamist extremism. As an author, he wrote 'Inside Jihad: How Radical Islam Works, Why It Should Terrify Us, How to Defeat It' in 2015, drawing from his personal experiences to detail the ideology and strategies of jihadist groups and advocate for their defeat.
Hamid is a prominent voice for Islamic reform, advocating for a moderate interpretation of Islam that emphasizes peace and rejection of violence. He has worked as a bridge between Muslim communities and Western societies, meeting with figures like Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser to promote reform and interfaith dialogue. His activism extends to global security discourse, critiquing radical ideologies in the Muslim world and calling for internal Islamic reform. His personal journey from extremism to reform has been highlighted in media outlets, including Jewish and international publications, underscoring his support for interfaith alliances. Despite ongoing threats due to his outspoken stance, he continues educational and policy efforts to defeat radical Islam.