The Problem ISN'T "Islamism" — It’s Islam | Khadija Khan #045
Thu Dec 18 2025
In this episode, I speak with Khadija Khan — journalist, political commentator, and Politics & Culture Editor at A Further Enquiry. Born and raised in Pakistan,
Khadija grew up inside a conservative Islamic environment and later left the religion. Her lived experience of misogyny, gender inequality, and ideological pressure informs her work as a commentator on politics, women’s rights, and Islamic doctrine in Western society. Khadija is now a courageous voice challenging harmful interpretations of Islamic ideology, pushing for open debate, and advocating for women who are constrained by patriarchal religious norms.
We discuss:
🔹 Radical Islam vs “Moderate” Muslims
🔹 Women’s rights under Islamic doctrine
🔹 The burka: choice or coercion?
🔹 Shariah courts and parallel legal systems
🔹 Whether Islam can be reformed to be compatible with liberal democracy
🔹 The tension between multiculturalism and universal human rights
Follow Khadija:
X: https://x.com/KhadijaKhan__
A Further Enquiry Substack: https://afurtherinquiry.substack.com
Follow Me
X: https://twitter.com/jackxjewell
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jackxjewell
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackxjewell
Substack: https://jackjewell.substack.com
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In this episode, I speak with Khadija Khan — journalist, political commentator, and Politics & Culture Editor at A Further Enquiry. Born and raised in Pakistan, Khadija grew up inside a conservative Islamic environment and later left the religion. Her lived experience of misogyny, gender inequality, and ideological pressure informs her work as a commentator on politics, women’s rights, and Islamic doctrine in Western society. Khadija is now a courageous voice challenging harmful interpretations of Islamic ideology, pushing for open debate, and advocating for women who are constrained by patriarchal religious norms. We discuss: 🔹 Radical Islam vs “Moderate” Muslims 🔹 Women’s rights under Islamic doctrine 🔹 The burka: choice or coercion? 🔹 Shariah courts and parallel legal systems 🔹 Whether Islam can be reformed to be compatible with liberal democracy 🔹 The tension between multiculturalism and universal human rights Follow Khadija: X: https://x.com/KhadijaKhan__ A Further Enquiry Substack: https://afurtherinquiry.substack.com Follow Me X: https://twitter.com/jackxjewell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jackxjewell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackxjewell Substack: https://jackjewell.substack.com