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Mubin Shaikh, a former jihadist who was radicalized by the Taliban, now works as an exit peer specialist for the nonprofit Parents for Peace, intervening with individuals before extremism takes hold.
Shaikh details how a single incident at a house party, where his uncle claimed he had dishonored his family, triggered his initial search for religious meaning that eventually led to his radicalization.
According to Shaikh, his uncle guilt-tripped him into believing the party was a heinous act, prompting him to seek a new identity. This search led to travels in India, Syria, and Pakistan.
In Quetta, Pakistan, a Taliban stronghold, Shaikh stated that he had a chance encounter with Taliban members who told him that becoming a militant was the only path to success in this life and the next.
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