Counter-Extremism Activist & International Terrorism Expert; Former Informant for U.S. Intelligence; Featured in "A Radical Life"
Tania Joya Biography
Tania Joya is a British-American counter-extremism activist and international terrorism expert known for her work in counterterrorism and deradicalization. Joya was married for 10 years to an American propagandist and commander for the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS). After fleeing her ex-husband and Islamist militants in Syria with her four sons, she worked as an informant for U.S. intelligence services, gathering information on international threats and collaborating with law enforcement to prosecute ISIS members.
Joya's path to radicalization began in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, when she became involved in fundamentalist circles. She married American convert John Georgelas, later known as Yahya al-Bahrumi, after online correspondence, with both sharing a vision of establishing an Islamic caliphate. In 2013, her husband took her and their children against her will to northwestern Syria to join militant insurgents. Joya reported him to U.S. authorities and, after three weeks, fled Syria to the United States. He was in charge of the group's English-language propaganda and became the highest-ranking American in the organization. Her escape and subsequent cooperation with authorities marked a turning point in her public life.
Joya has since focused on reprogramming extremists and reintroducing them into society, drawing on her experience as a former Islamic jihadist. She has worked with human rights organizations on preventing violent extremism and deradicalization initiatives for incarcerated Islamists and neo-Nazis. Joya collaborates with Faith Matters, a counter-extremism group in the UK, and the Clarion Project. Central to her philosophy is the belief that understanding the psychological and social pathways into extremism is essential for effective prevention. She emphasizes the importance of addressing the psychological and cultural factors that contribute to radicalization.
Joya delivers lectures on global terrorism to universities, the U.S. Congress, and podcasts. She has been interviewed by The Guardian, Texas Monthly, TEDx, Glenn Beck, BBC, NPR, Sky News, CNN International, The Atlantic, Good Morning Britain, and CBN about her expertise in Islamic fundamentalism. She participated in the documentary film "Kids: Chasing Paradise," which explores the exploitation of child soldiers in Muslim-majority societies. The Discovery+ documentary "A Radical Life" presents the story of Joya and her ex-husband, John Georgelas. Joya advocates for prevention programs as a key strategy to protect youth from radicalization and indoctrination.
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Tania Joya Speaking Topics
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A Harrowing Story about Tania's Escape from Islamic Jihad
Joya Georgelas (Tania Joya stage name) grew up in a British Muslim community believing that she was only half as valuable as a man. She was radicalized by a college friend who told her America "deserved" 9/11 and soon after became a mail-order bride to an American who would rise in the ranks of ISIS. But through it all, she sensed something truly evil about the oppressive, hate-filled culture of Islamic extremism that told her she had no rights.
She now proudly says that the FBI and America saved her life – and gave her the freedom to tell quite a story.
Tania Joya Videos
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What are the speaker fees for Tania Joya
Speaking fees for Tania Joya, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Tania Joya are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Tania Joya, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Tania Joya speak about?
Tania Joya is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Culture, Influential Women, Inspirational, Middle Eastern Heritage, Muslim, Muslim, Security & Defense, Sexual Assault Recovery, Social Activism, TED, Television & Film, Women, Youth -
Where does Tania Joya travel from?
Tania Joya generally travels from Plano, TX, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
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Tania Joya is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as A Harrowing Story about Tania's Escape from Islamic Jihad. The estimated speaking fee range to book Tania Joya for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Tania Joya generally travels from Plano, TX, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Maysoon Zayid, Ashley Judd, Leena El-Ali, Rebecca Bender and Sara Minkara. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Tania Joya for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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