"The way to deprive them of their ability to recruit is to attack the message. If you take Islam out of the message all that is left is criminality."

Was alerted to this on a Guardian board. This treatise could become a very big deal in the coming months when it is published.

Sayid Imam al-Sharif is a founding member of Islamic Jihad in Egypt. Long ago he authored Foundations of Preparation for Holy War, the so-called "Jihadist's bible." He has long been a comrade of Ayman al-Zawahiri and has been serving a life sentence in Egypt since his capture in Yemen.

Now he has just finished a document aimed at undermining the theological basis for violent jihad that is already causing ripples amongst Islamists. Several Arabic newspapers are jockeying for the rights to publishing the work. There are no guarantees, of course, but a condemnation of violence from such a person could finally spark a much needed dialogue amongst Muslims as to the future of their religion.

The Guardian has the scoop here.