Rizvi was born in Lahore, Pakistan in 1975[1] into a "moderate to liberal Muslim family."[4] He spent his early childhood in Libya, later moving to Saudi Arabia where he attended the American International School in Riyadh which he describes as a school exclusively for the children of ex-pat families living in Riyadh, limiting his exposure to Saudi culture and customs.[5] Both his parents were educated in North America, and taught at a Saudi university.[6] Rizvi's family and other expats referred to a square in Riyadh where public beheadings took place as "Chop-chop Square".[6]