Sohail Ahmed (former Islamist)
Radicalization
Radicalization
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Ahmed became [radicalized](/wiki/Radicalization "Radicalization") in response to the Iraq and Afghanistan military interventions by the United States and the United Kingdom. He was taught at his local mosque that the Iraq and Afghanistan interventions were representative of a war against Islam and Muslims. Consequently, he began considering carrying out an [Islamic terrorist attack in his home city of London](/wiki/Islamic_terrorism_in_the_United_Kingdom "Islamic terrorism in the United Kingdom").

Sohail has mentioned that his struggle with [homosexuality](/wiki/Homosexuality "Homosexuality") also had a significant impact on his journey towards [Islamic extremism](/wiki/Islamic_extremism "Islamic extremism"). In an attempt to change his sexuality, he became even more religious and observant, and given that he was a [Salafist](/wiki/Salafi_movement "Salafi movement"), this, in practice, resulted in him becoming ever more extreme in his views.

Sohail admits that whilst he was an [Islamist](/wiki/Islamism "Islamism"), he was involved in propagating his radical views at Sir George Monoux College. He also admits that he had radicalized a fellow British Muslim who later went on to [join the *jihad*](/wiki/Jihadism "Jihadism") with the now defunct [Islamic State](/wiki/Islamic_State "Islamic State") in Syria.


What was Ahmed's response to the Iraq and Afghanistan military interventions?