Tarek Fatah Urdu: طارق فتح (born November 20, 1949) is a Canadian political activist, writer, and broadcaster. He is the author of ''Chasing a Mirage: The Tragic Illusion of an Islamic State'' published by
John Wiley & Sons. In the book Fatah challenges the notion that the establishment of an
Islamic state is 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. ''Chasing a Mirage'' was shortlisted for the $35,000
Donner Prize for 2008–09.
Fatah's second book, titled ''The Jew Is Not My Enemy: Unveiling the Myths that Fuel Muslim Anti-Semitism'', was published by McClelland & Stewart in October 2010.
In May 2009, Fatah joined CFRB 1010. Later that fall, he joined John Moore's morning show as a contributor. Currently, he co-hosts "Friendly Fire," with Ryan Doyle on CFRB NewsTalk 1010's evening show.
Fatah is the founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress. Fatah's 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 met with considerable criticism from Canadian Muslim groups.
Personal life
Born in
Karachi,
Pakistan, Fatah was a student
leftist radical in the 1960s and 1970s. 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 Pakistani Television. He left Pakistan and settled in
Saudi Arabia, before emigrating to Canada.
Fatah married Nargis Tapal, and they have two daughters, Natasha and Nazia. Natasha Fatah is a producer for CBC Radio's ''As It Happens''. His younger daughter Nazia Fatah, who is autistic, is a partner in a co-operative catering business for young adults with disabilities. In February, 2011, it was discovered Fatah had a massive tumour on his spine and underwent surgery to remove it. He has recovered and is currently considered cancer free.
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. 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 "racial and religious exploitation" to "sell" the votes of their blocs of delegates "to the highest bidder."
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 stated that the NDP began opening its doors to Islamists under Alexa McDonough and now, under Jack Layton, he has 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.
Media activity
From 1996 he hosted ''Muslim Chronicle'', a Toronto-based current affairs discussion show focusing on the Muslim community. This program is no longer managed by Fatah, and another Muslim organization has ostensibly taken over the TV time available to him. Fatah interviewed notables such as journalist
Husain Haqqani, author
Tariq Ali, and
Mubin Shaikh on his program, which aired on the
Crossroads Television System on Saturday nights at 8:00 PM.
Fatah has also written opinion pieces for various publications including ''TIME Magazine'', the ''Toronto Star'', the ''National Post'' and the ''Globe and Mail''.
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.". In December 2008, Canada's largest circulating newspaper, the ''Toronto Star'', suggested to Prime Minister Stephen Harper that he appoint Fatah to one of the vacant seats in the Canadian Senate. ''Toronto Star'''s senior editor Bob Hepburn wrote this about Fatah: "A prominent spokesperson for secular and progressive Muslim issues who would bring a much-needed unique perspective to the Senate."
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.
Starting in September, 2010, Fatah joined Ryan Doyle as a co-host of "Friendly Fire," the evening show on CFRB 1010
Muslim Canadian Congress
He was one of the founders of the
Muslim Canadian Congress in 2001 and served as its communications director and spokesperson until 2006. In this capacity, he has spoken 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. He resigned as the communications director of the MCC in August 2006, claiming that his public profile as a socially liberal Muslim had put him and his family at risk.
The large majority of the founding members left the Muslim Canadian Congress over the years. This culminated in a dramatic split in the summer of 2006 when the remaining founders, including the entire executive and several other Board members left to form the Canadian Muslim Union (CMU). According to the ''Globe and Mail'', the split occurred when some members of the MCC's former board marched in a Toronto anti-war rally where banners and photographs supporting Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were paraded. While the current members of the MCC wanted nothing to do with Hezbollah, it was claimed that other executive members participated or supported the demonstrations, and resigned and formed the new CMU the next day.
This version of events is challenged in the resignation statement published by the exiting board members, which cited their belief that the Muslim Canadian Congress could no longer achieve its goal of influencing the Muslim community. According to some who split with Fatah, he and other Board members had participated in several earlier demonstrations where the same banners were displayed by some members of the crowd, including two just weeks before the split.
The CMU's philosophy of Liberal Islam is similar to the MCC's, but with an intention to work "with and within the Muslim community", as opposed to MCC's tendency to attack the Muslim community from outside.
Break with Irshad Manji
In 2003, Fatah engaged in a high-profile break with
Irshad Manji in the pages of 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." Manji replied saying that he told her in front of witnesses that "This book was written by the Jews for the Jews!"
However, Fatah recently said that he regrets his remarks and that he was unfair in slamming Manji's book. He now says 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."
Tarek Fatah and Imam Sheharyar Shaikh
Fatah was criticized after he failed to appear for a scheduled debate with Imam Sheharyar Shaikh, the President of North American Muslim Foundation (NAMF) and Imam of Masjid Qurtabah, despite confirming his attendance two hours prior to the scheduled start time. A heavily advertised debate was scheduled for January 21st, 2011. . Shaikh, who has openly defended
polygamy and opposed secular education for Muslims, is a sharp critic of Fatah's moderate views. Fatah later stated that he cancelled his appearance because the moderator was changed shortly before the event was to begin, angering Mr. Fatah, who described the audience as “hostile.” His associates with the
Muslim Canadian Congress then requested one of their replacement moderators be called in, angering Farooq Khan, executive director of NAMF, who described MCC members as full of “hyperbole and imaginary fear.” Fatah also claimed that he was warned by police of threats to his safety, though he added he has no proof.
Israel and the Middle East
Denunciation of Iranian President
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.
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."
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."
Opposition to Israeli policies
Although Fatah condemned Ahmadinejad for calling for Israel's destruction, he also stated that "we cannot remain silent about Israel's continued occupation of Palestinian territories." While Fatah believes in Israel's right to exist, he has called the Israeli occupation as "illegal" and "immoral". He believes Israel is fueling
antisemitism.
The Muslim Canadian Congress, which Tarek Fatah founded and led till August 2006, supported the campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel as of May 2006. The Congress also compared Israeli policies to South African apartheid.
Opposition to US war in 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."
Comments on Islam and extremism
Islamic radicalism
In a discussion hosted by the
Globe and Mail in 2007, Fatah stated that "most of the Islamic radicalism that you see today stems from the empowering of Saudi based Jihadi groups that were funded and backed by the U.S. and the
CIA throughout the Afghan war against the
Soviet Union."
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 who preached Jehad as an obligation for all Muslims if they saw another Muslim under attack."
He has stated that converts adopting the niqab face covering is indicative of joining "a cult", and offensive to Islam.
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."
Statement that Islam does not need to be reformed
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."
Location of 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, he stated:
We Muslims know the ... mosque is meant to be a deliberate provocation, to thumb our noses at the infidel. The proposal has been made in bad faith, ... as "''Fitna''," meaning "mischief-making" that is clearly forbidden in the Koran.... As Muslims we are dismayed that our co-religionists have such little consideration for their fellow citizens, and wish to rub salt in their wounds and pretend they are applying a balm to sooth the pain.
Position on 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."
Fatah also criticized the support of some gay and lesbian Muslims for Hezbollah, "There's the sudden romanticization of Hezbollah. But I cannot walk with, cannot even build a coalition with, a group which thinks gays and lesbians should be killed… I haven't ever heard them condemn what's happening in Iran and Saudi Arabia. I would like to see a demonstration outside the Iranian embassy by the gay and lesbian community."
Criticism of Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC)
In April 2008, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) dismissed a complaint about allegedly Islamophobic articles in Maclean's magazine. However, the commission denounced 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."
Fatah stated 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. "There are within the staff [of the Ontario Human Rights Commission], and among the commissioners, hardline Islamic supporters of Islamic extremism, and this [handling of the Maclean's case] reflects their presence over there" and that "In the eyes of the Ontario human rights commission, the only good Muslim is an Islamist Muslim. As long as we hate Canada, we will be cared for. As soon as we say Canada is our home and we have to defend her traditions, freedoms and secular democracy, we will be considered as the outside."
In a press conference on October 2, 2008, Fatah stated 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."
Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC)
Mohamed Elmasry
Regarding a controversy in October 2004 involving CIC President Mohamed Elmasry, in which Elmasry stated that all Israelis over 18 are legitimate targets, Fatah stated that "…to believe all Israelis are targets is the height of hypocrisy" and called on Elmasry to resign from the CIC.
Fatah also stated that: "In refusing to step aside, Elmasry and the CIC have demonstrated the authoritarian and dictatorial nature of their structure.…They purport to speak for Canada's 600,000 Muslims, but are not accountable or answerable to them.…We demand he [Elmasry] not…masquerade as leader of the community."
Fatah wrote that "Elmasry accused his Muslim opponents of being traitors to their faith—an allegation that is read as a charge of apostasy, with all its ugly consequences" and that "It is especially sad that Mohamed Elmasry and his allies have chosen the holy month of Ramadan to launch their broadside on progressive Muslims."
In June 2006, Elmasry named four public figures – Fatah among them – of taking every opportunity to bad-mouth Islam. Specifically, Elmasry stated that Fatah is "well known in Canada for smearing Islam and bashing Muslims." Fatah blasted Elmasry, stating 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 stated that he views the label from Elmasry as tantamount to a death sentence. However, some Islamic scholars disagreed with Fatah's characterization of Elmasry's comments. 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."
However, Fatah has argued that "in the Muslim world … allegations of apostasy are used to silence critics and human rights workers" and that "Some interpretations of Sharia call for apostates to be killed. Such views have forced many Muslims to flee their countries of birth and take refuge in tolerant Western nations such as Canada. To now find ourselves harassed in Canada by some Muslims here is alarming and ironic."
Fatah supported his concern by noting that a book, distributed for free at a Toronto Conference in September 2005 by the Islamic Council of North America, stated that "Jihad is as much a primary duty as are daily prayers or fasting. One who avoids it is a sinner. His every claim to being a Muslim is doubtful. He is plainly a hypocrite who fails in the test of sincerity and all his acts of worship are a sham, a worthless, hollow show of deception."
Wahida Valiante
Wahida C. Valiante, President of the Canadian Islamic Congress, 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." Fatah has written 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."
Canadian Arab Federation (CAF)
In February 2009, Fatah sharply criticized the
Canadian Arab Federation (CAF) 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."
Fatah opened by sharply criticizing CAF President Khaled Mouammar for calling Immigration Minister Jason Kenney a "professional whore" because Mr. Kenney criticized the display of Hamas and Hezbollah flags at a CAF-backed protest rally. Fatah also claimed that the CAF also referred to Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff by the same label. Fatah also criticized Mouammar for sending out an email during 2006 Liberal party leadership campaign which stated that "[Bob] Rae's wife is a vice-president of the CJC Canadian Jewish Congress, a lobby group which supports Israeli apartheid." Fatah also stated that Mouammar sent Muslim delegates a flyer that stated: "Bob Rae supports Israeli apartheid. Don't elect a leader who supports apartheid."
Fatah stated that CAF's vice-president in Ontario, Ali Mallah, referred to the Muslim Canadian Congress in an online forum as "house negros (sic)." He also claimed that Mallah sent out an e-mail message that was headlined: "Dion, Rae & Cotler: pro-Apartheid & anti-Human Rights." Fatah claimed the message also contained the following remarks:
Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion's handpicked human rights critic, Irwin Cotler, advises Israeli military officials on war planning, on how to spin the media following Israeli war crimes and on how to oppose Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; 2 Dion's handpicked critic for foreign affairs and co-writer of the Liberal party platform, the unelected Bob Rae is a committee member of the Racist Jewish National Fund. As Israel's leading newspaper Ha'aretz reports: "it's well known that the 'national institutions'—the Jewish Agency and Jewish National Fund—primarily exist to enable institutional discrimination based on ethnicity.
Fatah also claimed that Mallah attacked him personally, claiming that he has "no shred of decency of integrity left" and claiming that he served "Zionist masters."
Fatah concluded by stating that Canada's Arab community should demand that Khaled Mouammar and Ali Mallah step down and "not bring further shame to their community." He then called for a new leadership in the tradition of former leaders John Asfour Jim Kafieh, Jehad Aliweiwi and Raja Khouri.."
Response
In response to Fatah's article, CAF Vice-President Ali Mallah emailed a response to a large group of recipients. The
National Post later posted it in its original form. In the message Mallah wrote that:
Tarek Fatah has earned perfect description by Late Malcom X and prove to be a very loyal "house Negro". In this desperate attempt to malign CAF on the pages of Zionist mouth piece National Post, he is saying one thing correct: Yes, CAF awarded him that award, but that was when Tarek Fatah was cheating his way through and pretending to be pro-palestine, pro-social justice, pro-multiculturalis m and Anti-Liberal Party…etc (I am sure that every one knows this sell out, is fully aware of the shameless transformation of this sorry case of human being). I admit that I was duped by his fake lies and nominated him for that award. Now, since he is totally exposed and has no cloth left, He should return that Award as he does not deserve the honour associated with it.
Threats
Fatah says he has been attacked for his views, verbally at an Islamic conference in 2003 where dozens of young Muslim men mobbed him while a cleric shouted out that he had insulted the Prophet
Muhammad's name and in 2006 when he was accosted on
Yonge Street by a man who accused him of being an
apostate. His car windows have also been smashed. On August 4, 2006, Fatah announced his resignation as the MCC's communications director because of concerns for his safety and the safety of his family, stating that "it's not just for me. It's for my wife and my daughters."
Authorship
Fatah is the author of ''Chasing a Mirage: The Tragic Illusion of an Islamic State'', published in 2008. In the book Fatah challenges the notion that the establishment of an Islamic state is 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 introduced the book to its readers as "A cri de coeur… succinctly yet with power." In a review of a chapter in the book titled, "The Prophet is Dead," the Toronto Star said, "Fatah had broached the mother of all taboos."
Emran Qureshi wrote a critique of the book in the Globe and Mail. The book was praised by the Mackenzie Institute, which stated that it is "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."
In February, 2011, Fatah was scheduled to have a debate with Imam Sheheryar Shaikh of the North American Muslim Foundation (NAMF). Amidst much controversy, Fatah did not show up for the debate event and left many of his supporters disappointed.
On March 31, 2009, the Donner Foundation announced "Chasing a Mirage" had been shortlisted for their $35,000 prize awarded to non-fiction texts covering public policy.
References
External links
Transcript of Fatah being interviewed by CNN's Glenn Beck
The Macleans.ca Interview: Tarek Fatah, Kate Lunau, Macleans, November 29, 2007
Special feature interview with Tarek Fatah - November 4, 2010
Category:1949 births
Category:Living people
Category:Ontario New Democratic Party candidates in Ontario provincial elections
Category:Canadian television hosts
Category:Canadian Muslims
Category:Canadian people of Pakistani descent
Category:People from Toronto
Category:People from Karachi
Category:Muslim reformers
Category:Canadian writers of Asian descent
Category:Canadian political writers
Category:Social democrats
Category:University of Karachi alumni
