Description
Across the West, far right movements are gaining ground — not just at the margins, but in the mainstream. From fiery rhetoric to policy influence, they’re reshaping the way we talk about identity, belonging, and power. What’s fuelling this rise, and why now?
Join us for a timely and urgent discussion as our experts explore the deeper forces at play — from economic anxiety and online radicalisation to political polarisation and cultural backlash.
In this discussion we consider what this could mean for the future of democracy, free speech and how can we respond before the tide turns further.
About the Speakers
Dr. Nafeez Ahmed
Dr Nafeez Ahmed is an award-winning investigative journalist, systems theorist and strategic communications executive. He is the author of Alt Reich: The Network War to Destroy the West from Within (2025), Failing States, Collapsing Systems (2017) A User’s Guide to the Crisis of Civilization: And How to Save it (2010), The London Bombings: An Independent Inquiry (2006) and several other books. He is Executive Director of the Foundation for Civilisation Renewal, and creator of the AgeofTransformation.org newsletter which tracks the world’s biggest crises. A former journalist for Guardian and VICE, he does special investigations for Byline Times. His work has been used and cited in official inquiries in the US and UK, in the House of Commons, House of Lords, US Congress.
Naz Shah
Naseem Shah is a British Labour Party politician. She was elected at the 2015 general election as Member of Parliament for Bradford West, winning the seat from George Galloway of the Respect Party. She has served in the Opposition frontbench since 2018, currently as Shadow Minister for Crime Reduction.
Miqdaad Versi
Miqdaad Versi has a degree in Mathematics at the University of Oxford. He is Assistant Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain and a member of the Muslim Leadership Group for the Citizens Commission on Islam. He leads much of the MCB work on counter-terrorism. He has media experience with broadcast and print media, including Newsnight, The Times and Al-Jazeera English amongst many others, and is a contributor to The Guardian’s online comment section “Comment is Free”.
About the Chair
Nabeela Rasheed
British by birth, Pakistani by heritage, American by choice, Biochemist by training, Lawyer by profession, lesbian by love, Muslim by faith, activist by passion.
Prior to her position as Vice President for Legal and Intellectual Property at biopharmaceutical company Cullinan Therapeutics, Dr. Rasheed served a similar role at Amunix Pharmaceuticals Inc, and worked on the M&A activities leading to the acquisition of that company by Sanofi, Inc.
She started her in-house corporate career as Section Head of IP at AbbVie. Before going in-house, she gained over two decades of experience in private practice as a senior partner at law firms such as McAndrews Held & Malloy, and Marshall, Gerstein & Borun, where her practice focused on counseling biotechnology and pharmaceutical clients in intellectual property related issues. She has also served on the Chicago Commission on Human Relations. She is presently vice-chairperson on Chicago House Social Services Agency, an agency focused on providing housing and wrap around services for people affected by HIV/AIDS. Dr. Rasheed believes in being a patient advocate for all of the communities that she serves following the adage that “service to others is the rent that we pay for being on this earth.”
Join Our Mailing List
By submitting this form you agree to our Privacy Policy and to receive marketing emails, including e-newsletters and event updates from Bradford Literature Festival.