Founder of the Quilliam Foundation caught in 'drunken night of temptation'

Maajid Nawaz, a parliamentary candidate for the Liberal Democrats, and one of the founders of Quilliam, who describes himself as a feminist has been filmed repeatedly trying to touch a naked lap dancer, according to an expose by the Daily Mail newspaper.

Quilliam claims to be “world’s first counter-extremism organisation”. Based in London, its staff include former leading members of Islamist organisations. The organisation lobbies government and public institutions for more ‘nuanced policies regarding Islam’ and the need for greater democracy in the Muslim world. According Maajid Nawaz, they “wish to raise awareness around Islamism”.

Maajid Nawaz, 37, is contesting the marginal seat of Hampstead and Kilburn in north London for the Liberal Democrats in the upcoming British General Election.

Nawaz, the married father-of-one, according to the International Business Times, is a leading member of London’s Muslim community and that it is alleged that he visited the club during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Former extremist

Quilliam opposes any Islamist ideology, and champions freedom of expression. The critique of Islamist ideology by its founders Maajid Nawaz, Rashad Zaman Ali, and Ed Husain is based, in part, on their personal experiences as members of the radical Hizb ut-Tahrir.

Nawaz was jailed in Egypt in 2005 for activities with Hizb ut-Tahrir. When he was released and returned to the UK in 2006, he renounced his views and became a spokesman on extremism issues.

The “feminist”

In the footage obtained by the Daily Mail, Maajid Nawaz can be seen repeatedly attempting to touch the girl as she dances naked for him in a private room, which is against the venue’s policy. The club’s manager, Jay Shah, alleges that Nawaz was “very drunk” and that bouncers threatened to throw him out several times.

In an appearance on BBC’s Newsnight in 2013, Nawaz proclaimed: “I consider myself a feminist.” He has also posted on Twitter to say: “You don’t need to be a woman to stand for women’s rights.”

Last night Conservative MP Nadine Dorries called for Nawaz to resign his candidacy.

“In politics, you can’t advocate one cause or manner of behaviour then act differently in your personal life,” she said.

A spokesman for Nawaz stated that he denied touching the dancer “inappropriately” and that his reputation for advocating women’s rights was “in the context of Islamic extremism”. He said Nawaz was not warned about his behaviour, and that he was not “out of control” through drink or breaching the rules.

The spokesman added: “The evening you refer to was our client’s stag night before his marriage. His best man took him to the gentleman’s club with the full knowledge of our client’s then future wife (now his wife)”, a statement confirmed by a tweet from Maajid Nawaz.

Yes, I can confirm that last summer I had a stag night http://t.co/2w640mu3gt

— Maajid Nawaz (@MaajidNawaz) April 10, 2015