The Interrupted Terrorist

How a Radicalized Antisemite Found Peace in Jerusalem

Kasim Hafeez was born in England to parents of Pakistani origin and grew up in a devout Muslim home in Nottingham. His Muslim enclave wasn’t violent or what might be called extreme, but antisemitism was always in the background. They never interacted with Jews, but in his home and community, the topic would elicit an irrational hatred. According to the narrative, Israel was occupying stolen land and carrying out genocide against the Palestinians. To Kasim’s father, the only thing wrong with Hitler was that he didn’t kill enough Jews.

So Kasim grew up believing antisemitism was both justified and righteous. As a college student, he joined the Islamic Society, where he was exposed to a steady stream of imagery...