Raheem Kassam, born on August 1, 1986, is a prominent British political activist and media personality known for his impactful career as the former editor-in-chief of Breitbart News London and chief adviser to former UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage. Kassam’s journey through political activism and media has been marked by controversy, influence, and a relentless pursuit of his ideals.
Early Life and Education of Raheem Kassam
Raheem Kassam was born in Hammersmith Hospital in White City, West London, to Tanzanian Muslim immigrants of Indian origin. Raised as an Ismaili Shia Muslim, Kassam’s early years were shaped by a multicultural and religiously diverse background. However, by 2016, he had distanced himself from his religious upbringing, citing the influence of Christopher Hitchens’ writings on his atheistic views.
Kassam attended Bishopshalt School, a state comprehensive school in Uxbridge, and later St Helen’s College, Hillingdon. He pursued higher education in Politics at the University of Westminster, where his passion for political activism began to take shape. His time at university was not without controversy, as he labeled his alma mater a “hotbed of radical Islam” due to the presence of extremists like Jihadi John.
Early Career and Activism
Raheem Kassam’s professional journey started with a brief stint at the American financial services firm Lehman Brothers, which went bankrupt in 2008. He then became involved with various political and activist organizations.
As a national executive board member of Conservative Future and director of Student Rights, Kassam campaigned against extremism and highlighted issues such as the London School of Economics’ acceptance of funds from Gaddafi’s Libya, leading to the resignation of the university’s director, Howard Davies.
Kassam’s admiration for figures like Michael Gove, Margaret Thatcher, and Barry Goldwater, along with his support for free markets, underscored his political ideology. He joined the Henry Jackson Society, a neoconservative foreign policy think tank, and managed electoral campaigns in the UK and US. His involvement with the Bow Group, Gatestone Institute, and Middle East Forum further solidified his presence in conservative circles.
Rise to Prominence
Kassam’s rise to prominence was significantly bolstered by his role at Breitbart News, where he, along with James Delingpole, established the London edition of the far-right news outlet. His tenure at Breitbart was marked by a series of high-profile engagements, including organizing a “Free Tommy” demonstration in support of counter-jihad activist Tommy Robinson and joining the Institut des sciences sociales, économiques et politiques in France.
In 2019, Raheem Kassam and lawyer Will Chamberlain acquired Human Events, a conservative American digital publication, for $300,000. As the global editor-in-chief, Kassam spearheaded the relaunch of the outlet, although he left later that year. His collaboration with Steve Bannon on the War Room: Impeachment podcast further amplified his influence in conservative media, particularly during the impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump.
Political Views
Raheem Kassam’s political views have frequently been described as far-right and alt-right by mainstream commentators. He identifies as a nationalist and has been a vocal critic of Islam, describing it as a “fascistic and totalitarian ideology” and advocating for curbing Muslim immigration to the UK. These views have attracted significant controversy and criticism, with accusations of spreading hate speech and bigotry.
Raheem Kassam’s confrontational style and “shock and awful” tactics have made him a polarizing figure. He has been a persistent critic of London Mayor Sadiq Khan, accusing him of turning the city into a “shithole” and having links to extremism. Despite these controversies, Kassam’s impact on the political landscape and media discourse cannot be understated.