Yaroslav Trofimov talked about his book The Siege of Mecca: The Forgotten Uprising in Islam’s Holiest Shrine and the Birth of Al Qaeda, published by Doubleday. The author talked about the 1979 seige of the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the consequences of the Saudi government’s efforts to end it. Mr. Trofimov argued that this event eventually led to the creation of Al Qaeda and other jihadists groups. After his presenation Mr. Trofimov was joined in discussion by Mr. Devji, and then responded to questions from members of the audience.

Yaroslav Trofimov is also the author of Faith at War: A Journey on the Frontlines of Islam, from Baghdad to Timbuktu. Faisal Devji is the author of Landscapes of the Jihad: Militancy, Morality, Modernity, published by Cornell University Press.

The World Policy Institute co-sponsored this event with the New School’s Committee on Historical Studies and South Asia Forum. It was held at the Eugene Lang College of The New School for Liberal Arts.