Why I Left the Far-Right | Joram van Klaveren

From extreme nationalism and far-right politics to compassion and empathy, watch the incredible transformation story of Joram van Klaveren, a former Dutch parliamentarian.
Subtitles/CC: 🇺🇸 English , لماذا تركت اليمين المتطرف , 🇪🇸 por qué dejé la extrema derecha, 🇫🇷 pourquoi j'ai quitté l'extrême droite, 🇩🇪 Warum ich ganz rechts abgereist bin, 🇮🇹 Perché ho lasciato l'estrema destra, 🇵🇱 Dlaczego opuściłem skrajną prawicę, 🇹🇷 Neden En Sağdan Ayrıldım, 🇷🇺 Почему я покинул ультраправых
Joram van Klaveren is now the president of the Anthony Janszoon Association. The English translation of his book, Apostate, will be published towards the end of the year by 't Kennishuys.
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Captions by volunteers (with much gratitude):
- Pachto: Hamdan Illahe (PhD in law at IIU Islamabad-in progress)
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Script:
...
My name is Joram van Klaveren, and I’m a former member of the Dutch parliament who represented the Party for Freedom, the anti-Islamic nationalist party of Geert Wilders.
For years I gave everything I had to fight against Islam. I tried to make legislation to shut down all Islamic schools in the Netherlands. I attempted to close all mosques, ban the Quran, and ban Islam altogether from the Netherlands. As a Dutch politician, I opposed Islam in every way possible.
Then, in 2017, I left parliament and finally had the time to fulfill a long-held desire: to write an anti-Islam book. I wanted a book that would provide conclusive theoretical grounding for all of the objections I held against Islam as a politician.
My book would settle the dispute about Islam with a clear conclusion: Islam is a danger to Europe, to America, to the West, and, actually, to the whole world.
Before writing my book, my view about Islam was influenced by the conservative Protestant environment of my upbringing, in which other religions, and certainly Islam, were definitely seen as wayward and wrong.
I was also influenced by the cultural aversion toward Islam that many Europeans have, which was a result of their historic clashes with the Islamic world.
And of course, the fears and worries I experienced during years of studying comparative religion at the university formed my opinions. Remarkably, my studies at the university actually began on September 11, 2001.
Many horrors would sadly follow, inside and outside of Europe, from the murder of columnist Theo van Gogh; to kidnappings, anti-Semitic terror, and beheadings; to haphazard stabs, truck attacks, and suicide attacks; to the proclamation of the caliphate by ISIS. There were even Muslims from the Netherlands who travelled as jihadists to Syria.
These events confirmed and deepened my negative feelings about Islam and motivated me to join Wilders’ party. I believed that Islam should be fought where possible.
But as I began writing my book, I came across information that was at odds with my ideas.
I learned that many of my ideas about Islam-stated by orientalists, far-right Westerners, and even by Islamic extremists-had little or no basis in historical Islam.
My research often presented me with contexts and interpretations that were very different from those I had propagated for years. A more nuanced image of Islam slowly developed in my mind.
Seeking more information, I wrote to various academic authorities on Islam, including Professor Abdul Hakim Murad of Cambridge University. He pointed out various scholars, books, and facts and advised me to read again and more deeply.
One by one, my objections to Islam vanished. Islam was no longer a religion that promoted violence, hatred, and anti-Semitism, or a religion that categorized women and non-believers as inferior humans and stridently opposed democracy. Slowly, my perspective of Islam changed.
I also received surprisingly satisfying, Islamic answers to my existing Christian questions about specific dogmas, such as the Trinity, the sacrifice of Christ, and original sin.
All that I was learning about Islam influenced my work on the book in such a way that it began to take on the character of a personal search for God.
During this search, the person of Prophet Mohamed raised the most questions with me. Who was this man? A deceiver, an antichrist, or was he truly the last prophet of God?
I started to read again about his life, but now without my previous biases. And I saw a more than special man. A man with almost supernatural patience, care, love, guidance, and above all dedication to his God and to his mission for justice.
...

[@exhindu4825]

I left Hinduism few moths back, Alhamdulillah I’m Muslim now.

[@ghaithsawan7650]

Welcome bro

[@hayDer.malick]

Mas sha Allah welcome

[@truthoverhappiness7338]

What made you leave brother.

[@onverra7731]

Alhamdulillah

[@hither4287]

Mashallah, Allah will Reward you for this

[@mobinmirshekari4884]

It reminds me of the conversion story of Umar Ibn Al Khattab (RA). First starts with extreme hate, then ends in love.

[@Halaqa]

Kind of like my own conversion too.

[@gandinsuga]

The first revelation of the Holy Qur'an is: "Read!"

[@ashramdhan1582]

Ex hindu Dutch guy here lol.. I came so Islam as well.

[@princedjll4912]

Welkom broeder❤️. Een ex hindu in Nederland heb ik noh niet eerder gehoord. Zou je kunnen uitleggen waarom je het Hinduïsme hebt verlaten?

[@mohammedimran-ow6je]

Did your family knows it?

[@Amadeus-ms9lt]

MashaAllah! How are you?

[@aboetarikske]

Mooi man. Ik ken er ook een paar, zijn er dus toch best veel.

[@bhtvff1461]

Joram is an smart men,because he is using mind over blind hate..

[@johnplayer1052]

I mean seriously? Emir-Stein centre is doing a wonderful job 👍

[@Md.Kamarussalihin]

Thank you, always wanted to hear from him since his conversion.

[@sszz130207]

Did he convert to Islam?

[@kkk-zf2qk]

Allah says: " o mankind ask for forgiveness, im ready to forgive you"

[@nehazafar277]

The first verse revealed in the Quran is "iqra" is to read. Reading ,knowledge is what save us and indeed Allah guides the one who He wills.Subhan Allah. Assalamualaikum brother

[@dralchemy8459]

The Islam portrayed by the media and the REAL Islam are completely different.

[@dralchemy8459]

@Frank Boguszewski I did, years ago.

[@HussainFahmy]

*_In the remembrance of Allah, the heart finds peace and solace._*

[@suzannem651]

Ameen

[@RjM777]

Islam is dangerous

[@marcellinechoisne5627]

holly molly,dank sei gott,you changed your mind! a proof you re a smart person!im not religious at all,but i have many islamic friends, and i can tell you they are real good people!

[@2manyusernamestaken548]

May Allah guide you ❤️

[@ajgarahmed6286]

Thank you

[@sagalmusse6977]

Bless you 💜✌

[@powersystem6856]

Hope you find guidance. Insha Allah

[@nurumohamed7138]

+Marcelline Choisne May Allah bless you for telling the truth.

[@-Zirun-]

You are truly a great man mister Van Klaveren. As the saying says: "Only fools never change their minds." We all make mistakes and can be wrong, admitting it and making up for it instead of choosing to stay in ignorance is what make the difference between the fool and the wise. Many should follow your example. May Allah bless you.

[@viii151]

Wicki de Viking his comment has nothing to do with changing your religion, it has to do with the hatred that fills someone heart that make them attack others out of ignorance.

[@mohamethkane5966]

Those who thought he was smart when he was on the other side will change their mind about him and consider him now as a crazy. Hate is a disease. May Allah open our hearts. Ameen

[@ajgarahmed6286]

Ameen

[@powersystem6856]

Mohameth Kane Allah is enough for us. Those that mocked the people of hold are in the graves facing their doom. They have been long forgotten and turned to dust

[@mohamedaliomar4265]

“Extremists isn’t the answer” Perfect 👏

[@ronyw5019]

Eye-opening video, ignorance is the real enemy.

[@johannagal6926]

I know how it feels when you realize how terrible you are before and how Allah's guidance and mercy saves you in the darkness that you didn't perceived..

[@LikemikeyA]

Wow Amazing video!! Amazing presenter!! Amazing story!! Very well done! Great job in your effort to spread peace and unity, thank you for the excellent content!!

[@EmirSteinCenter]

Thank you! Please share.

[@zuhailishufller8046]

God gave you the minds and you understand Islam during your research in anti-Islam book. Certainly people with minds who do a lot of thinking will see the truth and it seems you also can see the truth. I'm glad you had shared your experience.

[@muzairanwar]

He is not just smart, a critical thinker, and open minded, but also he is so brave. He is publocally accepting his past mistakes and accepting Islam as his way of life. It must have been such a hard decision to make as an ex-politician.

[@AliHaider-np9ed]

Dear non Muslim Read Read Read Quran by yourself! May Allah guide you all

[@user-pb9in4dd7x]

👍thank you Emir Stein center and Allah bless our brother joram للناطقين بالعربية: لا تنسوا تفعيل الترجمة cc

[@Rachidasister]

Amin.

[@samsuddinsalleh1742]

Alhamdulillah.

[@lkz91]

This shows that Ignorance is the real danger, not religion. Thank to this brother for telling his story, i hope Allah will lead him to the straight path. Assalamu aleykum to all my brothers and sisters in faith and from other faiths, from 🇦🇱🇦🇱

[@gulled868]

We ❤ you Joram van Klaveren Love from Belgium

[@savvybytes3748]

A beautiful change of heart ❤️

[@billbrown4380]

“It is a great shame for anyone to listen to the accusation that Islam is a lie and that Muhammad was a fabricator and a deceiver. We saw that he remained steadfast upon his principles, with firm determination; kind and generous, compassionate, pious, virtuous, with real manhood, hardworking and sincere. Besides all these qualities, he was lenient with others, tolerant, kind, cheerful and praiseworthy and perhaps he would joke and tease his companions. He was just, truthful, smart, pure, magnanimous and present-minded; his face was radiant as if he had lights within him to illuminate the darkest of nights; he was a great man by nature who was not educated in a school nor nurtured by a teacher as he was not in need of any of this.” ― Thomas Carlyle, On Heroes, Hero Worship and the Heroic in History Quran 96.1-5 Read (O Muhammad) in the name of your Lord who created, created man from a clinging clot. Read as well, your Lord is Ever-Honorable. It is He who taught with a pen prepared for writing, taught man what he never knew.

[@amanullahsalehzadeh9223]

Yes you're exactly right. If Pen is an example we should know that. Pen is how much powerful. We created our life with pen If we don't have pen what will happen.

[@estebazemormmarbia4625]

"When you stop learning, you start dying" [Einstein] 👍

[@anjumanara3493]

I respect you Joram.Allah opened your heart.May Allah bless you

[@CeynteShow]

Knowledge is power. العلم نور

[@jjo528]

Ironicly, that was a quote by a free mason. Francis bacon.

[@elyc.1554]

I am Catholic and my husband is Muslim.I got to know Islam better thru him.I was surprised when he said I don't need to convert to Islam because Islam does not force people to do something they are not willing to do.My respect for Islam started from that time.Now my husband tells me I am half-Muslim with all the things that I know about Islam.If I am not Catholic I will choose to become Muslim.

[@pjq420]

that's good for you sister choose wisely as time passes rapidly..hope for the best to you and me and the whole muslim world

[@kibowa]

Take your time sister, read and find the truth your self. I wish you the best in your jouney to Islam.

[@deadx7738]

Assalam walaikum sister, I hope you never stop learning about Islam . The more you know the more amazed you will be. ❤️

[@Model3GenerativeANdroid]

_"And mention in the Book about Mary when she withdrew from her family to an eastern place.” “So she took a veil (to screen herself) apart from them. Then We sent unto her Our Spirit (Holy Spirit) that presented himself to her a perfect man.”_ _“She said: ‘Verily I take refuge in the Beneficent (Allah) from you! if you are God-fearing.” “He (the angel) said: ‘Verily I am only a messenger of your Lord that I bestow on you a pure son’.” “She said: ‘How shall there be for me a son while no man has touched me, neither have I been unchaste.”_ _“He said: ‘So (it will be)’. Your Lord says: ‘It is easy for Me, and that We will make him a Sign (miracle) unto the people and a Mercy from Us, and it is a matter decreed. “So she conceived him (Jesus) and withdrew with him to a distance place.” “And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree. She said: ‘Would I had died ere this, and had been a thing forgotten’.”_ _“Then (a voice) called out unto her from beneath her: ‘Grieve not! Verily your Lord has made a stream to flow beneath you’.” “And shake the trunk of the palm-tree towards yourself. It will drop on you fresh ripe dates.” “So eat and drink and refresh your eye; and if you meet any mortal, say: ‘Verily I have vowed a fast to the Beneficent (God), so never shall I speak today with any human being’.”_ _"Then she brought the child to her people, carrying him (in her arms). They said: ‘Verily you have done a very indecent thing’.” “O sister of Aaron! Your father was not a bad man, nor was your mother an unchaste woman.”_ _“Then Mary pointed to him. They said: ‘How shall we speak to one who is (yet) a child in the cradle?’” “He (miraculously) said: ‘Verily I am a servant of Allah; He has given me the Book and made me a prophet’.”_ _"And He has made me blessed wherever I may be and He has enjoined on me prayer and almsgiving so long as I live.”_ _“And (He has made me) kind to my mother, and He has not made me arrogant unblessed.”_ _"And peace be on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive.”_ _"This is Jesus, son of Mary, a statement of truth, concerning which they doubt.”_ _"It is not befitting to Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When He decrees a thing, He only says unto it: ‘Be’, and it is.”_ Holy Qur'an - Surah Maryam (Chapter Mary) 19 : ayat 16 to 34.

[@ilhamezz1249]

ماشاء الله تعطي صورة توضيحية وبسيطة عن الاسلام ونبيه الكريم محمد هذا بفضل علمك ونفاذ بصيرتك وعلمك الله ينورك كثيرا لطريق الاسلام وتبرز للعالم مدى سماحة الاسلام الذي اذا حورب اشتد وكنت اشد اعداءه وبفضل الله فتح لك الله طريق النور

[@meenoomeenoo4578]

Note that Sh. Abdul Hakim Murad is also a revert.

[@alnajahtelecom9315]

Long live true christian -Muslim brotherhood.

[@rab251]

Subhan'Allah. ....Allah s.w.t guides those who reflect....think.....read....research....The seed of iman will firmly take roots.....Masha'Allah brother....

[@pake9613]

Peace be upon you

[@doniamustafa8667]

really world needs u and yr videos plz keep going

[@loveallcreatures1883]

Finally I found something about you in English, you're really inspiring, smart. And faithful.. May God grants you heaven. Peace be upon you dear lovely brother...

[@ukmuslims]

Brother I didn't know you before but I know you now. Alhamdulillah

[@Mighty_Deeds]

I smile every time Emir-Stien center upload a new video. These videos teach me that we all need to promote understanding of the other in our own communities and reject unfair rhetoric that doesn't represent the good nature of people around the world. Thank you very much.

[@hopefulsarah4045]

Indeed!

[@Anna-tj7mp]

I could not live without my Lord, Christ, but I do like and respect the deep kindness and courtesy, and great generosity, I have experienced in Turkey, Morocco and Palestine. That courtesy has included care for me as woman sometimes travelling alone, where I was always treated as a sister and guest. I send my love above all, to the people of South West Morocco.

[@flowerpower7268]

Wow! SubhanAllah! May Allah guide you straight path, Ameen!!!!

[@Koffent]

Thank you for coming out publicly. I find shame is dominant driving factor in extremist beliefs. No one wants to admit to themselves the possibility they could be wrong, let alone admit it to other people. We are all flawed, that's just a fact of human nature. Humility and the willingness to accept those flaws is what brings peace and understanding to all mankind.

[@akmalrodzi4633]

I'm so glad that he reached out to Syeikh Abdul Hakim Murad, in the end it Allah guides who he wills.

[@High-Vibrational-Alignment]

Any man that can say he was wrong is a rarity and should be listened to. Great job!

[@RashidJorvee]

No one can en-light the heart of a Human except Allah. Alhumdulillah!

[@masterkhan2023]

The sad part is that while we are busy watching this video, thousands have passed away without knowing who their creator is, what the purpose of their creation is,what the truth of Islam is. Let us do our best for the sake of humanity and pass the message of Islam to all.

[@0mnm]

Very well done, deeply grateful for the work put into this

[@amelakaichi2496]

لايعادي الإسلام إلا من يجهله.. اللهم اهدي البشرية جمعاء 💖

[@jiqbal1uk]

SubhanAllah Allah bless you brother and increase your Eman and May Allah protect you from the haters.

[@abuzarghafari7893]

What a magic of Islam that any person before accepting Islam abuses and criticises but after accepting Islam his/her mind changes rapidly which converts from hate to love, enmity to compassion.. Subhan ALLAH!

[@Mk3390]

Another great video! Keep up the great work! We love the Emir-Stein Center!

[@irjapairmia3544]

அல்லாஹ் உங்களுக்கு அருள் புரிவானாக ஆமீன், aameen From 🇲🇾 Malaysian tamilian Muslim... 27/12/2022.

[@azital4754]

الاسلام دين ودستور للإنسانية جمعاء لا يفرق ولا يميز أحدا عن أحد إلا بالتقوى ،والتقوى لا تكتسب إلا بالبحث و التأمل في خلق الله ،(الكون) .والسيد جوران تأمل وبحث و درس الرأي والرأي الآخر حتى وجد الجواب الشافي و المقنع و هذا هو مغزى الاسلام و رسالته النبيلة من أجل سعادة الإنسانية جمعاء سعادة أبدية. هنيئا لك سيد جوران بالنجاح في بحثك و حياتك.

[@deano5564]

With more than a billion Muslim's and Christian's, you're doing amazing work building bridges between us. God bless

[@AbdulMajeed-lm2hs]

Dear Joram, thanks for posting video. will share maximum .

[@EmirSteinCenter]

Thank you! We need help spreading the word about this video and the other video on this channel.

[@ahmedyassin7702]

May God bless you for the truth❤️ ...and with great energy I thank this channel for ur honesty in bringing Justice to unjust media

[@isaahmadi8271]

Wauw, even voor de nederlanders tussen ons. Kijk al een paar keer naar dit kanaal en heb tot nu toe genoten van alle videos, echt heel mooi! Maar ook heel mooi en wat een toeval dat deze man voorkwam in een van hun videos, leuk!

[@muhdkhairulhassan7736]

Much love Joram..the fact that you went out of your comfort and researched is commendable.

[@allfusionx]

Amazing to hear your story! I believe you reached the truth only because you were sincere (in your search) and didn’t let your previous bias control the outcome of your research.

[@rockinghamkebabspizza9283]

I’m so happy you had seeing the truth, and I wish many people to see you to :)

[@billmartin5181]

It is good to hear from you. Thank you!

[@halaldigest]

Mashallah. Just subscribed and liked. Keep up the good work.

[@EmirSteinCenter]

Thank you for watching. Please share with friends and family.

[@shiishani3302]

Great to see that people are still being able to change like this.

[@muhammedfahd3956]

You're doing a great job Joram, keep going. The entire Ummah is with you.

[@monaali8661]

The sun or the truth can't be hidden with a thin web of lies. I really love and appreciate you Joram because you knew something and now you are speaking out... When you talk, you spread awareness and understanding...

[@yazidiarabmysticmuslim4742]

This is the most epic and beautiful conversion to Islam . There is no evil , there is only Ignorance , you Joram was a beautiful person from within but ignorant , and now you are the same beautiful soul but just became little more knowledgeable , yet without ignorance we couldn't seek knowledge , God bless You Joram Van Klaveren . love and light . Ya Allah Ya Melek Taus

[@DazzSpace]

Ma shaa Allah, welcome to Islam alhamdulillah.

[@raal5558]

Welcome to Islam my brother! May God grant you guidance always to the truth and his mercy! God bless!

[@emnaammouni1614]

Powerful! Keep up all the great work!

[@murtadha96]

Fantastic work done by you guys!

[@samturner5725]

Hey good to see that youv been guided to the right path,i wishu you all the best in future good1 😉😉 thankyou.

[@rbg7408]

Alhamdulillah! When you search for the purest sense of something and with sincere intentions... BarakAllahu feek brother Joram.

[@KhalilKhan-kg9ox]

Your Making me cry.

[@Sahil-ol2tf]

All humans are equal

[@qazijalal6608]

Keep it going . These videos are just awesome and deeply informative

[@jimmykurnia2513]

May Allah always guide you to the straight path. I pray that you will be in Jannah.

[@sarakh9261]

May Allah protect you and keep you steadfast on the deen❤️

[@muratcezari8956]

Great insight, man: nuances

[@frankfurt9314]

Ohhhh haters gonna hate!!!! Hahah may Allah bless and guide us All

[@birchtree7534]

What a beautiful heart. What a wonderful journey and destiny

[@zainbaker6241]

Your very honourable and brave man..Allah bless you always.

[@abunaserchy5321]

Masha Allah All believers just need to love each other May Allah bless you brother

[@HaroonKhan-se2rn]

Thanks for the videos😘 Subbed 👍

[@EmirSteinCenter]

Thank you. Please share our videos with friends and family. Also check us on social media.

[@shakamaly8711]

Indeed Allah works in mysterious ways. May Allah give u more knowledge and lead u in the right path.

[@imdadullahwarraich8672]

Joram van Klaveren you are great

[@malihajung6531]

As salaam u alaykum Wa rahmah tullahi wa barakathu Allah bless you you with the best of both worlds and make things easy for you Amazing journey! Whoever Allah wants to guide, no one can misguide

[@Pakistan2insights]

God blessed you with the blessing of Islam, may Allah give you success and peace

[@izharkhan8173]

Mashallah. Allah give guidance to whomever He wants. ❤

[@maliksarmadriaz2601]

Alhamdulilah, May God bless Joram and his family.

[@adbtqi]

Thankyou brother for sharing your analysis

[@noorfatima2921]

You are so lucky because ALLAH chose you ....

[@atw212]

Thanks so much for sharing your videos in your Chanel

[@NewMan2015]

Very educating and informative video! May Allah Bless you always. Thank you.

[@OnDeenObito]

May Allah bless you brother, Islam is beautiful

[@noorhafsa6190]

"Allah guides whom he wills".. Subhan Allah ❤️❤️

[@user-uc7iu2rm2h]

iam a Dutch moroccan and have alot of respect for him

[@taydilarel27]

Beste Joram van Klaveren, Je hebt dat fantastisch goed gedaan. Proficiat! Masha Allah . Trots op u !

[@nazaroudineisnaeni6480]

Hi brother a few months ago I was trying to seeking videos you're brave man