In a world where the word ‘terrorism’ immediately concocts a vicious image of suicide bombers, or attacks against the innocent on a massive scale, Moazzam Begg’s book thoughtfully considers the effects which such widespread condemnation can have on the individual liberties of those deemed to be a cog in the terrorism network.

Begg, a former Guantanamo inmate, who spent years being detained until he was released without charge two years ago – without an apology – tells us of his experiences, from growing up in a racist Britain to being illegally detained under a charge which he knew little about. Described as a ‘war tourist’ by the naive, Begg travelled to a number of war torn countries, in order to provide aid, and unashamedly, to further his own understanding of the Muslim philosophy of Jihad.

His unique experiences not only demonstrate his courage and determination, which were to keep him sane in the latter stages of Guantanamo, but they also effect his understanding of his own plight and situation. In particular, on first reading of this book, an instant, and largely understandable reaction by the modern reader, will be one of scorn and disillusionment with the Western authorities for the manner in which they handled the aftermath of the September 11th attacks. Stark and revealing phrases, such as Begg’s initial arrestor’s claims that he was using handcuffs ‘…given to him by the wife of a victim of 9/11′ portray the extent to which the US acted with their hearts over their heads.

Despite this, Begg remains strangely calm, cool and ultimately at peace with his captors, drawing upon his own beliefs rather than using the book as a political tool, to criticise the Western democracies’ inability to excise rational control when the life of their nation is threatened.

In short, the book is nothing short of a must-read, for it allows the reader to consider the wider spectrum of the governments’ restrictions on civil liberties, and the effects which they have, not only on the person whose rights have been curtailed, but also their relatives and others closely connected.

Verdict: 4/5