Between Muhammad Ali and Me
Strange as it might seem, growing up, I used to think that young Cassius Clay — or Muhammad Ali — was Bengali. It made perfect sense in my 8-year-old imagination.… Continue reading "Between Muhammad Ali and Me"
Category: Long Form
-
-
Jailing Jihadists in the West
With additional material “Did you have any trouble getting here?” asked the balding man with the bullish neck, grey beard, and high-pitched voice. “Just a little bit,” I answered politely,… Continue reading "Jailing Jihadists in the West"
-
Exodus of Smoke
Inspector Hyder lit a cigarette, he knew it was illegal to smoke in private property other than one’s own, but he smoked anyway. It was one of those idiosyncratic rules… Continue reading "Exodus of Smoke"
-
Abdal
Ba- Dal- Lām. Tinker with these Arabic trilateral roots and it will reveal many secrets. Those who believe language is a construct of the mind must look at Ba-Da-La; no… Continue reading "Abdal"
-
Little Flecks of Silver
At dawn the view of Damascus was glorious. I loved to watch the sun rise whilst Kurdish pigeon fanciers flew their little flecks of silver over the green minarets that… Continue reading "Little Flecks of Silver"
-
I, Relic: the story of my grandfather and the Bengalis of the East End
Whenever I walk towards the Brick Lane Mosque in the east end of London I always look at it as a continuation of a Dicken’s novel; from the Artful Dodger… Continue reading "I, Relic: the story of my grandfather and the Bengalis of the East End"
-
The Caliph of Lisson Green
Muhammad al-Rifai was an unassuming figure who ended up as the nominal leader of the Muslim world. Opportunities to meet a caliph are pretty rare. Yet in London in the… Continue reading "The Caliph of Lisson Green"
-
The American
“What do you reckon that is?” Abu Imad said, tapping the scope. He looked at me, rubbing his bushy beard thoughtfully. He wanted me to make the two-meter journey to… Continue reading "The American"
-
Abdul Hakim Belhaj: Why I rejected bin Laden’s invitation to join al-Qaeda
“We need to do something!” the young Belhaj had said, brandishing the handgun. “What?” his university friend said puzzled. “I don’t know,” he replied. “What about when the bullets run… Continue reading "Abdul Hakim Belhaj: Why I rejected bin Laden’s invitation to join al-Qaeda"
-
Paradise Lost: The Rise and Fall of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
I entered Najiyeh, a small town of no consequence, without their permission. The town claimed to be an ISIS principality. The claim seemed ridiculous but as we drove in to… Continue reading "Paradise Lost: The Rise and Fall of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi"