Tarek Fatah

Tarek Fatah

Tarek Fatah
Born (1949-11-20) 20 November 1949
Karachi, Sindh, West Pakistan
Nationality Canadian
Alma mater University of Karachi
Occupation political activist, writer, broadcaster
Religion Islam
Spouse(s) Nargis Tapal
Children 2 including Natasha Fatah

Tarek Fatah (born November 20, 1949) is a Canadian writer of Indian origin,[1][2][3] broadcaster, secularist and liberal activist.

Fatah is the founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress and served as its communications officer and spokesperson. Fatah advocates gay rights, a separation of religion and state, opposition to sharia law, and advocacy for a "liberal, progressive form" of Islam. Some of his activism and statements have been met with criticism from Canadian Muslim groups.

Background

Tarek Fatah was born in Karachi, Pakistan, where his family had settled following the Partition of British India. Fatah is of Punjabi origin.[4] He was a leftist student leader in the 1960s and 1970s.[1] Although he graduated with a degree in biochemistry from the University of Karachi, Fatah entered journalism as a reporter for the Karachi Sun in 1970, and was an investigative journalist for Pakistan Television. He was imprisoned twice by military regimes. Finally, 1977, he was charged with sedition by the General Zia-ul Haq regime.[1]

He left Pakistan and settled in Saudi Arabia, before emigrating to Canada in 1987.[2]

His own introduction to himself says:

"I am an Indian born in Pakistan, a Punjabi born in Islam; an immigrant in Canada with a Muslim consciousness, grounded in a Marxist youth. I am one of Salman Rushdie’s many Midnight’s Children: we were snatched from the cradle of a great civilization and made permanent refugees, sent in search of an oasis that turned out to be a mirage."[1]

Political activity

He became involved in the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP) and worked on the staff of Premier Bob Rae. Fatah was an NDP candidate in the 1995 provincial election but was unsuccessful. He subsequently worked for Howard Hampton.

In July 2006, he left the NDP to support Bob Rae's candidacy for the Liberal Party of Canada's leadership. In an opinion piece published in Toronto's Now Magazine, Fatah wrote that he decided to leave the NDP because of the establishment of a "faith caucus" which he believes will open the way for religious fundamentalists to enter the party.[5] However, after Rae's defeat by Stéphane Dion, Fatah condemned similar racial and religious organizing activity in the Liberal Party, arguing in a Globe and Mail editorial that Tamil, Sikh, Kurdish and Islamist Muslim leaders had engaged in "blatant efforts to wield political muscle," "bargaining the price of their cadre of delegates" and creating a "political process that feeds on racial and religious exploitation."[6] "I respect the diversity of Canada," he wrote, "but I want to celebrate what unites us, not what divides us into tiny tribes that can be manipulated by leaders who sell us to the highest bidder."[6]

At a press conference on October 2, 2008, Fatah sharply criticized the New Democratic Party (NDP). Fatah stated that he was a lifetime social democrat who had supported the NDP for 17 years but that he could no longer be affiliated with that party. He claimed that the NDP began opening its doors to Islamists under Alexa McDonough and that, under Jack Layton, he had seen them "flood" into the party. Fatah stated that Islamists in the NDP have pursued a campaign to instill a sense of victimhood in Muslim youth.[7]

In early 2011, Fatah said that he received a threat via Twitter. Fatah contacted Toronto Police Service and later met with two police officers from 51 Division. Fatah said that police intelligence officers, one a Muslim officer who had shut down a previous investigation into a death threat, shut down the investigation and claimed there was no threat.[8][9] Fatah criticized the Toronto Police over the incident.[8]

In a 2015 Toronto Sun article, Fatah wrote that he would be voting for Conservative leader Stephen Harper in the 2015 federal elections, while calling himself a social democrat.[10] Fatah has also favoured both Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders for the United States presidential race in 2016. He said that many Muslim groups, including himself, have recommended curbs on immigration from countries that harbour Islamist sympathisers, similar to policies promised by Trump.[11][12][13]

Media activity

From 1996 until 2006 he hosted Muslim Chronicle, a weekly Toronto-based current affairs discussion show on CTS and VisionTV which focussed on the Muslim community.

In 2003, Fatah broke with Irshad Manji in an article in the Globe and Mail in which he repudiated the thanks she gave him in the acknowledgment section of her book The Trouble with Islam. Fatah wrote of Manji's book that it "is not addressed to Muslims; it is aimed at making Muslim-haters feel secure in their thinking."[14] Manji replied saying that he told her in front of witnesses that "This book was written by the Jews for the Jews!"[15] Fatah was subsequently quoted as indicating that he regrets his remarks and that he was unfair in slamming Manji's book. He said that she was "right about the systematic racism in the Muslim world" and that "there were many redeeming points in her memoir, which I overlooked in my rush to judge it."[16]

He has also been a guest host of TVO's The Agenda filling in for Steve Paikin.

In February 2007, Fatah was included by Maclean's magazine on a list of 50 Canadians described as "Canada’s most well known and respected personalities.".[17]

In December 2008, the Toronto Star suggested that Prime Minister Stephen Harper appoint Fatah to one of the vacant seats in the Canadian Senate.[18] Toronto Star's senior editor Bob Hepburn wrote that Fatah is "A prominent spokesperson for secular and progressive Muslim issues who would bring a much-needed unique perspective to the Senate."

CFRB 1010

From May to September 2009, Fatah co-hosted the "Strong Opinions Show" on Toronto's CFRB 1010. After the show's cancellation he joined CFRB's Moore in the Morning program as a commentator.[19] Starting in September, 2010, Fatah joined Ryan Doyle as a co-host of "Friendly Fire," the evening show on CFRB 1010. He hosted a Sunday afternoon show, The Tarek Fatah Show, and appeared as a commentator on other shows prior to leaving CFRB in January 2015.

Newspapers

Fatah writes a column for the Toronto Sun and appeared on the Sun News Network as a frequent guest host and commentator prior to the station's demise in February 2015.[20] Fatah has also written opinion pieces for various publications including TIME Magazine, the Toronto Star, the National Post and the Globe and Mail.

Debate with Sheharyar Shaikh

In February, 2011, Fatah was scheduled to have a debate with Sheharyar Shaikh of the North American Muslim Foundation (NAMF), after Shaikh issued an open challenge to Fatah to debate him. Fatah cancelled at the last minute and failed to show up.[21] Shaikh, who had defended polygamy and opposed secular educations for Muslims, was a critic of Fatah's views. Fatah stated that he had cancelled his appearance because the moderator was changed shortly before the event was to begin, and because the audience was "hostile". Fatah also claimed that he was warned by police of threats to his safety.[22] Fatah and Shaikh later appeared together in an interview for Sun News debating the role of Islam in ISIS.[23]

Views

Middle East

Pakistan

He is a staunch critic of Pakistan in his articles. In February 2013, the website of the Toronto Sun, where Fatah contributes his articles, was blocked in Pakistan. According to reports by Fatah himself, the block was likely due to Fatah's unsparing critiques of Pakistan published in the tabloid.[24] According to Fatah, he is also banned from making public speeches or lectures in Pakistan.[25]

Iran

In October 2005, Fatah, in his role as communications director of the Muslim Canadian Congress, denounced Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for calling for the destruction of Israel.[26]

Fatah stated that "The mullahs who control Iran with an iron grip merely use the pain of the Palestinian occupation for their own advantage in diverting people's attention from other pressing matters. They talk about wiping out Israel, but in reality the only people they have wiped out are fellow Iranians by the tens of thousands. After a reign of terror that killed thousands and drove many more into exile, they have used torture, arbitrary arrest, vigilante justice and murder to silence fellow Muslims in Iran."[26]

Fatah added that Ahmadinejad "insults Islam by usurping it to serve his own narrow political interests" and that "with friends like the Iranian ruling ayatollahs, the Palestinians do not need enemies."[26]

Israel

In 2010, the Toronto Star reported that Fatah believed in Israel's "right to exist" and Zionism, but was calling for an end to the illegal and "immoral" Israeli occupation of Palestine, and anti-Arabism, and that he supports a two-state solution. Fatah said that Israel's actions were fueling antisemitism, though antisemitism in itself, he believes, "violates Islam's essence".[27]

Iraq

Fatah also condemned US President George W. Bush "for posturing as a deliverer of freedom while occupying Iraq." Regarding Iraq, Fatah wrote that "both Iran and the U.S. have helped destroy a nation."[26]

Islam and Muslims

Islamic radicalism

In a discussion hosted by the Globe and Mail in 2007, Fatah claimed that "most of the Islamic radicalism that you see today stems from the empowering of Saudi based Jihad groups that were funded and backed by the U.S. and the CIA throughout the Afghan war against the Soviet Union."[28]

Tarek sided with Michele Bachmann when she accused Huma Abedin of allegedly having ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.[29]

Fatah argues that "Most secular and liberal institutions were destroyed piece by piece and what we are left with is the result of huge amounts of cash and weapons in the hands of the Taliban type, or Al-Qaeda groups that get their intellectual sustenance from the political teachings of the Muslim Brotherhood founder Hassan Al-Banna and the leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami, Abul ala Maudoodi, both of whom preached Jehad as an obligation for all Muslims if they saw another Muslim under attack."[28]

He has stated that converts adopting the niqab face covering is indicative of joining "a cult", and offensive to Islam.[30]

In 2016, Tarek opposed the introduction of Sharia banking in India.[31]

Support for the Quran and opposition to Shariah

Fatah stressed that "The poison is not coming from the Quran, but from the man-made shariah laws of the 8th and 9th centuries as well as the works of such 20th century scholars as Syed Qutb, Hassan Banna and Maudoodi" and that "The swamp that needs to be drained is the swamp created by Saudi Arabia and Iran and their call for imposition of Shariah."[28]

Islam reformation

Fatah also stated that "it is not Islam that needs to be reformed, it is the need for Muslims to reconcile with modernity and the notion of the secular nation state ... Unfortunately, whereas the religious right in Islam is well funded and well organised, the liberal secular Muslim is too busy leading a 9-to-5 life, paying his mortgage and providing for his family and thus has no time or resources to challenge the Islamist extremists."[28]

According to the National Post he has also said "Islam is riddled with termites ... and if we don’t cleanse ourselves with truth, the stench of our lies will drive us mad", and that there are "hateful sermons in almost every mosque" in Canada  Fatah himself does not attend a mosque and encourages Muslim parents to keep their children out of mosques because they have become, in his view, schools for fanaticism.[32]

Cordoba House Mosque

Writing with author Raheel Raza, a fellow board member of the Muslim Canadian Congress, about the location of the proposed Cordoba House mosque near Ground Zero, Fatah called the mosque a "deliberate provocation" and that the proposal was "made in bad faith."[33]

Honour killing

In November 2011, 60 Muslim groups and two dozen imams endorsed a statement that called for action against domestic violence, condemned honour killing as a notion that had "absolutely nothing to do with Islam". Tarek Fatah refused to endorse the statement, according to the National Post, arguing that the statement didn't address gender inequality and that honour killing has roots in Islam. According to Fatah Islam deems the relationship of an unmarried woman as "adultery" and imams must distance themselves from punishing such actions by death.[34]

Homosexuality

Fatah stated that "The issue that has resulted in all the threats and allegations against us is our support for same-sex marriage. It's the central point on which the Muslim Canadian Congress and I have faced outright hostility, verging on violence. There is near unanimity in any religious group that this is the ultimate sin and, for them, this amounts to the ultimate betrayal." Regarding Islam and homosexuality, Fatah stated that "Our human rights cannot revolve around religion. It's not about our rights, it's about human rights."[35]

Fatah also criticized the support of some gay and lesbian Muslims for Hezbollah.[35]

Little Mosque on the Prairie

Fatah has been a critic of the sitcom Little Mosque on the Prairie, calling it "propaganda" and "paid for by the Muslim Brotherhood". Fatah said "I found most white people would laugh at it because they were scared if they didn't laugh they'd be called a racist."[36] He has also called the show "Islamist" and labeled the show "Little Masquarade on the Prairie.[37]

Criticism of Ontario Human Rights Commission

In April 2008, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) dismissed a complaint about allegedly Islamophobic articles in Maclean's magazine. However, the commission criticized the newsweekly for publishing articles that were "inconsistent with the spirit" of the Ontario Human Rights Code, and doing "serious harm" to Canadian society by "promoting societal intolerance" and disseminating "destructive, xenophobic opinions."[38]

Fatah said that for the Commission "to refer to Maclean's magazine and journalists as contributing to racism is bullshit, if you can use that word" and that the Commission has unfairly taken sides against freedom of speech in a dispute within the Canadian Muslim community between moderates and fundamentalists.[38] On October 2, 2008, Fatah said that the OHRC has been "infiltrated by Islamists" and that some of its commissioners are closely linked to the Canadian Islamic Congress and the Canadian Arab Federation, both of which, according to Fatah, have "contempt for Canadian values."[7]

Praise and criticism

Michael Coren, a notable critic of Islam, has praised Fatah for being "brave" enough to admit the "faults and failings" of Islam.[32]

Wael Haddara, president of the Muslim Association of Canada, said that he "respect[s]" Fatah for his passion but that it was "hard, if not downright impossible, to find something positive that he has ever said about Muslims." As a result, Haddara argues, Muslims are no longer listening to Fatah.[32]

Syed Soharwardy, an Imam in Calgary, said that while Fatah's views are valuable, he stereotypes Islam by extrapolating the behavior of a few extremists to represent the religion as a whole.[32]

Advocacy groups

Muslim Canadian Congress

Fatah was one of the founders of the Muslim Canadian Congress in 2001, after the September 11 attacks[39] and served as its communications director and spokesperson until 2006. He spoke out against the introduction of Sharia law as an option for Muslims in civil law in Ontario, Sharia banking in Canada, which he has described as a 'con-job', promoted social liberalism in the Muslim community and the separation of religion from the state, and endorsed same-sex marriage.

In July 2006, Fatah was the subject of an email campaign at Canadian media over his views.[40] Fatah resigned as the communications director of the MCC in August 2006, citing concerns about his safety and his family member's safety.[40]

Tarek Fatah and other MCC board members at anti-war demonstration in Toronto

Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC)

Mohamed Elmasry

In October 2004 CIC President Mohamed Elmasry stated that all Israelis over 18 are legitimate targets for suicide bombers.[41] Fatah, along with other Jewish and Muslim organizations, called on Elmasry to quit.[41]

In June 2006, Elmasry said that Fatah is "well known in Canada for smearing Islam and bashing Muslims." Fatah responded that "[t]his is a classic threat to label anyone as an apostate and then marginalize them," … "and this is what Mr. Elmasry has done by listing me as the top anti-Islam Muslim." Fatah said he saw the label from Elmasry as tantamount to a death sentence. Leonard Librande, professor of religion at Carleton University, told CTV News "There's nothing particularly Islamic in this… There are differences of opinion frequently in the community. It doesn't mean somebody is going to kill you."[42]

Wahida Valiante

Wahida Valiante, president of the CIC, told the Globe and Mail that "Tarek Fatah's views are diametrically opposed to most Muslims. There is a tremendous amount of discussion in the community. His point of view contradicts the fundamentals of Islam." [43] Fatah wrote to the RCMP to complain about the CIC's article claiming that it "is as close as one can get to issuing a death threat as it places me as an apostate and blasphemer."[44]

Canadian Arab Federation

In February 2009, Fatah criticized the Canadian Arab Federation (CAF), CAF President Khaled Mouammar, and CAF's vice-president in Ontario, Ali Mallah, in an article published in the National Post. Fatah, who received the CAF's highest award in December 2001, stated that the CAF's current leadership has turned the organization "into a mouthpiece for Hamas and Hezbollah in Canada." Fatah stated that the CAF used to sponsor debates on the pros and cons of the Oslo peace accord but today labels "any backer of the two-state solution [as] a traitor to the Muslim cause."[45]

Books

Fatah is the author of Chasing a Mirage: The Tragic Illusion of an Islamic State, published in 2008. In the book Fatah argues against the establishment of an Islamic state as a necessary prerequisite to entering the state of Islam. He suggests that the idea of an Islamic state is merely a mirage that Muslims have been made to chase for over a millennium.

The Toronto Star reviewer John Goddard said that book was a "richly layered work of stark realities."[46] Emran Qureshi in the Globe and Mail said that Fatah had provided a "substantial contribution to the critique of the Islamic state and the state of Islam, especially in Canada" but criticized the book for its "gratuitous polemics" and sloppy fact-checking.[47] The book was praised by the Mackenzie Institute, which stated that it is "a direct challenge to the fanatics of the Wahhabi, Deobandi, and Khomeinist traditions. His exposition is solidly rooted in the oldest texts and histories of Islam and argues that the pursuit of an imperial Islamic state has soiled the religion, and violates the intentions of Mohammed himself."[48] On March 31, 2009, the conservative Donner Canadian Foundation announced "Chasing a Mirage" had been shortlisted for their $35,000 Donner Prize, awarded to non-fiction texts covering public policy.[49]

Fatah's second book, titled The Jew Is Not My Enemy: Unveiling the Myths that Fuel Muslim Anti-Semitism,[50] was published by McClelland & Stewart in October 2010. The book won the 2010 Annual Helen and Stan Vine Canadian Book Award in Politics and History. Fatah was awarded the Helen and Stan Vine Canadian Book Award in Politics and History.[32]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Elizabeth Roche, Who is Tarek Fatah?, Livemint, 24 April 2016.
  2. 1 2 An Indian born in Pakistan: Meet and chat with Tarek Fatah at Firstpost Salon this Thursday, Firstpost, 23 November 2015.
  3. "About Me - Tarek Fatah". Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  4. "Who is Tarek Fatah?".
  5. Tarek Fatah, "Faith no more—How the NDP's flirtation with religion pushed me out of the party," Now Magazine, July 20–26, 2006
  6. 1 2 Tarek Fatah, "Race and religion at the Liberal Party convention" Globe and Mail, December 6, 2006
  7. 1 2 Barbara Kay, The Islamist elephant in the room no politicians will acknowledge by Barbara Kay, National Post, October 2, 2008.
  8. 1 2 Tarek Fatah: Some death threats don’t count by Tarek Fatah, National Post, March 4, 2011.
  9. Tarek Fatah's threatening tweet By Joe Warmington, Toronto Sun, March 8, 2011.
  10. Tarek Fatah (2015-10-13). "Why this socialist will vote for Harper". Toronto Sun.
  11. Tarek Fatah (2016-03-01). "My 1st choice is @BernieSanders, but if he's not in the running, anyone but that crooked woman with a crooked laugh.".
  12. Tarek Fatah (2016-02-21). "#Sanders is a real human being just as #Trump is for the GOP. I'm sick of the Teflon Clinton and Cruz types.".
  13. Tarek Fatah (2016-08-16). "Trump's jihad against jihad deserves support". Toronto Sun.
  14. Tarek Fatah, "Thanks, but no thanks: Irshad Manji's book is for Muslim-haters, not Muslims" Archived copy at the Library of Congress (21 March 2006). (Fatah's criticism of Irshad Manji), Globe and Mail, November 23, 2003. Republished at Muslim WakeUp! last viewed December 11, 2006. See also Irshad Manji, "The trouble with à la carte critics" (Manji's response to Fatah), Globe and Mail, December 2, 2003. Republished at muslim-refusenik.com (Irshad Manji's official website), last viewed December 11, 2006.
  15. "The trouble with à la carte critics" by Irshad Manji, Globe and Mail, December 2, 2003
  16. Gora, Tahir Aslam (Jun 26, 2008). "Canada's a centre for Islamic reform". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  17. Macleans 50 http://www.macleans.ca/macleans50/index.jsp
  18. Filling the Senate: And the nominees are … http://www.thestar.com/article/557229
  19. "Terrorism, hero worship and free speech". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2016-08-23.
  20. "Cancelled debate highlights tension among Canadian Muslims". National Post. Retrieved 2016-08-23.
  21. Jessica Hume (7 February 2011). "Cancelled debate highlights tension among Canadian Muslims". National Post. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved January 2012. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  22. Tarek Fatah & Imam Sheharyar Shaikh - ISIS & Islamic imperialism Sun News Prime Time Nov 17, 2014 (retrieved May 12, 2015)
  23. "Toronto Sun website blocked in Pakistan: Report". Express Tribune. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  24. "http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2308324/There-mini-Pakistan-growing-Delhi-Author-Tarek-Fateh-speaks-lecture-Arafat-cancelled.html?ito=feeds-newsxml". Daily Mail. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013. External link in |title= (help)No such ruling is known on Fatah in Pakistan.
  25. 1 2 3 4 Tarek Fatah (October 29, 2005). "MCC denounces Iranian President's speech". Muslim Canadian Congress.
  26. John Goddard (19 November 2010). "The Jew Is Not My Enemy: Tarek Fatah". Toronto Star.
  27. 1 2 3 4 Fatah, Tarek (July 13, 2007). "The question of jihad". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
  28. "Why Michelle Bachman Is Right to Question Muslim Brotherhood". The Huffington Post.
  29. The Chronicle Herald, "Cheryfa MacAualay Jamal converted 'to a cult'", June 9, 2006
  30. "RBI's idea to bring Sharia Banking into the fray is deeply flawed, writes Tarek Fatah".
  31. 1 2 3 4 5 Charles Lewis (28 May 2011). "Saturday Interview: Tarek Fatah rails against the corruption and dangers he sees in Islam". The National Post. Archived from the original on 2 August 2011.
  32. Raza, Raheel; Fatah, Tarek (August 9, 2010). "Mischief in Manhattan". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on 18 August 2010. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  33. "No 'honour' in domestic violence, not part of Islam, imams to preach Friday". 2011-12-08.
  34. 1 2 Krishna Rau (August 17, 2006). "Gay-friendly Muslim leader steps down". Xtra.
  35. http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/video/1531255131001
  36. 1 2 Joseph Brean (April 9, 2008). "Rights body dismisses Maclean's case". National Post.
  37. Handler R Tarek Fatah and his case against 'radical' Islam CBC News Oct 15, 2008 (retrieved May 12, 2015)
  38. 1 2 Fatah, Sonya (2006-08-03). "Fearing for safety, Muslim official quits". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2016-08-23.
  39. 1 2 Jimenez, Marina (2004-10-28). "Islamic leader apologizes but won't quit". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2016-08-23.
  40. "Threats force Tarek Fatah to resign from MCC". CTV News. August 3, 2006. Archived from the original on 21 October 2007.
  41. "Globe and Mail, August 3, 2006" Archived 24 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  42. Sonya Fatah "Fearing for safety, Muslim official quits", Globe and Mail, August 3, 2006
  43. Tarek Fatah: Stop funding fundamentalism by Tarek Fatah, National Post, February 20, 2009.
  44. Goddard, John. "A moderate Muslim longs for a more spiritual faith | Toronto Star". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2016-08-23.
  45. Qureshi, Emran. "The state of Islam". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2016-08-23.
  46. Alexander Mackenzie's Bookshelf, Newsletter July 2008 #73, The Mackenzie Institute. Archived 14 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  47. Archived 23 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  48. The Jew Is Not My Enemy: Unveiling the Myths that Fuel Muslim Anti-Semitism

External links

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