Islamist terrorism is not about religion, says Leena Al Olaimy, an Arab Muslim, Dalai Lama Fellow, and social entrepreneur. She identifies the economic, social, and political factors that are its true driving forces and offers innovative strategies to address them that have proven far more effective than military interventions alone.


Sixteen years ago during Ramadan, Leena Al Olaimy was a senior at New York University volunteering at Ground Zero. Ironically, she, a practicing Muslim, was assigned to distribute food to the rescue workers. Angered by what her religion had come to represent, and at those brandishing their perverted version of it, she embarked on lifelong research into the root of extremism.

While terrorism experts are unlikely to reach a consensus on the instigators, nor discover an algorithm explaining violent extremism; there is one common thread present through the narratives of terrorists. In some shape or form, they have all suffered from social, economic, or political exclusion. Most critically, this creates an inner turmoil, resulting in the delusion that martyrdom can bring glory. Yet throughout history, many marginalized peoples have not retaliated with such senseless violence, so what inner and outer enabling conditions drive individuals who have radicalized in the name of Islam? And more importantly, what solutions lie in our personal power to address them? This book examines these questions through a spiritual lens, reflecting on absolutism, moral humility, and the potential 'fundamentalist' in all of us, including the perils of justifying a "noble pursuit" using immoral means; and the parallels between interpretations of scripture to justify violence, with interpretations of scripture to vilify religion. Current counter-terrorism measures are counterproductive. This book offers creative, evidence-based solutions to remedy the consequences of counter-terrorism policies that exacerbate exclusion. Al Olaimy argues there is a way to better invest in peace as individuals, entrepreneurs, policy-makers, and civil society.