Multi-award winning entrepreneur and Harvard scholar Azeem Ibrahim was called to the pentagon to meet with the US Assistant Secretary of Defense, Doug Wilson.

The meeting came after he was invited to discuss the issue of US Islamic radicalization within the Muslim American community, specifically the South Asian diaspora.
Azeem, 34, from Maryhill, Glasgow, started his working life in his parents' corner shop and then went on to make £60million through online banking and even set up a host of charities to help the world's most disadvantaged people.
Azeem said: “The US overshot the situation after 9/11 but much of it was teething problems.
“The Americans are aware they have weaknesses in addressing this problem and want to rectify it as quickly as possible. The meeting was to brief the Secretary on our thoughts on how to deal with this problem. I handed all attendees a copy of my policy memo.”
“I am delighted and honoured that my ideas being considered at the highest level in the US.”
Azeem is a founding member of the SOLAS Foundation and has also worked with the UK Foreign Office on a book and exhibition called ‘The Art of Integration’.
This follows on from Azeem having been invited to deliver a briefing at the US Congress highlighting how to tackle Islamic extremism over the long term, in which he detailed a number of lessons learned from his pioneering research and Islamic programs.

Azeem is no stranger to tackling extremist ideologies and has an extensive track record for breaking new ground in this area.

Over the years, he has advised the UK government on counter-terrorism and radicalisation strategy after delivering a keynote speech at the Security and Cohesion Leaders' Summit at Whitehall.

He subsequently wrote a policy memo on 'Reducing Terrorism over the Long Term', which was distributed to every MP, Peer and Member of the Scottish Parliament.

The memo aroused intense interest amongst senior politicians within the United Kingdom and in the United States.

The meeting was hosted in Secretary Wilson's office at the Pentagon.

Also attending the meeting were the Deputy Director of the National Security Council, the organization in charge of the Global Engagement Initiative for the President, Nayyera Haq, the Deputy Director of Communications for the State Department, Captain Wayne Porter from the Office of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Daniel Sutherland, Group Chief from the National Counter Terrorism Centre.

 

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