The Imam of Peace
Nadene Ghouri profiles John Butt, a Muslim convert who became an imam, and his dangerous work of spreading a message of peace in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Nadene Ghouri profiles John Butt, an Englishman who travelled to South Asia on the hippy trail, converted to Islam and trained as an imam. For the last few decades his mission has been to spread a message of peace and tolerance across Pakistan and Afghanistan. He set up a series of radio stations across the Swat Valley in Northern Pakistan and established a madrassa in Jalalabad in Afghanistan, preaching his own version of a moderate inclusive Islam. Now this work is getting tougher. The Swat operation was hit by last year's flooding while militants attacked his madrassa, burning down a building. The jihadist threat means it is too dangerous for John Butt to travel to the Swat Valley or to visit his project in Jalalabad. Nadene Ghouri asks who's winning - John or the extremists?
Producer: Bill Law.
Last on
Broadcasts
- Mon 24 Jan 2011 20:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
- Mon 21 Mar 2011 16:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4