Tawfik Hamid

Tawfik Hamid, Credit: Tawfik Hamid webpage

This article is part of SpinWatch's Terrorism Experts project.

Dr Tawfik Hamid M.D. is Senior Fellow and Chair for the Study of Islamic Radicalism at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies.

Biography

According to Potomac's website:

Dr. Tawfik Hamid is an Islamic thinker and reformer, and one time Islamic extremist from Egypt. He was formerly a member of a terrorist Islamic organization Jamaa Islamiya with Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahiri, who later became the second in command of Al-Qaeda. Some twenty-five years ago, Dr. Hamid recognized the threat of radical Islam and the need for a reformation based upon modern peaceful interpretations of classical Islamic core texts. Dr. Hamid's work focuses on providing a fresh and theologically valid interpretation of the Quran to counterbalance radical teaching.

As the Daily Express (UK) wrote, "Dr. Hamid has predicted the attacks on the twin towers, Madrid and London." After September 11, Dr. Hamid decided to speak out through western broadcast and print media. He has appeared on shows spanning the spectrum from CNN to Fox News, and his articles and Op-Ed pieces have appeared in publications such as the Wall Street Journal, the New York Daily News, and the Jerusalem Post. Dr. Hamid's exceptional knowledge of the jihadi mindset has caused him to be invited as a guest speaker at private and governmental fora around the world. Dr. Hamid has a unique insight into the minds of radical terrorists and hopes to share ways in which we can positively influence their way of thinking and end their violent actions.

Dr. Hamid, who is also known as Tarek Abdelhamid, has a medical degree in internal medicine and a Master's degree in cognitive psychology and educational techniques. He is the author of the book Inside Jihad.