Canadian muslim quits spokesman gig; claims death threats for liberal views

[Grimmlok]

Aug. 4, 2006. 05:25 AM
SURYA BHATTACHARYA
STAFF REPORTER


Tarek Fatah has quit as communications director for the Canadian Muslim Congress, saying he's worried that the threatening calls, hate mail and death threats may adversely affect his autistic child.

"Even if the glasses are rearranged, it upsets her," said Fatah, who resigned his post more than three weeks ago. "If something were to happen to me, she would be devastated."

Fatah is controversial in Toronto's Muslim community because of his criticism of Muslim conservatives. He has also been accused of enjoying the media spotlight.

The Muslim Canadian Congress supports same-sex marriage, female-led prayers and women's rights and is opposed to the introduction of sharia family law in Ontario.

"There are many silent voices within the Muslim community and part of our mandate is to give voice to those people," said El-Farouk Khaki, secretary-general of the congress.

"(Fatah) has been very much in the public eye, and not all his statements have been well received by all," said Khaki. Other moderate Muslims including Irshad Manji, author of The Trouble with Islam Today: A Muslim's Call for Reform in Her Faith, have taken precautions against such threats.

Manji, a visiting Yale University fellow who lectures on the liberal reformation of Islam, doesn't carry a cellphone because "the technology used by cellphones makes it easy for ill-wishers to track you down," she wrote in an email to the Toronto Star.

"I routinely receive death threats, most of them anonymous and a rising number of them from radicals in the West — Britain, Scandinavia, Netherlands, even Toronto.

"A recent email to me and my Urdu-language translator described me as the `woman writer who is subject to death.' The police tracked that email to an Internet cafe in Toronto."

Manji said she's been told some of the Toronto-area men arrested on terrorism-related charges said on an Islamist website that her fate "is not far" from that of Theo van Gogh, the Dutch filmmaker murdered by a young Muslim in 2004.

Fatah held the communications job since the congress began in October 2001 but says that, in the past three months, the threats have become openly violent. He cites as triggers the terrorism-related arrests and Canada's refusal to issue a visa to a controversial British imam who was to address a youth conference in Toronto.

Fatah has complained to the RCMP and Toronto police about threats to kill him.

One incident that has not sparked a police complaint, but raised Fatah's ire, involves Mubin Shaikh, a sharia law advocate.

In 2005, at the Reviving the Islamic Spirit Conference, Shaikh told a gathering that Fatah had abused the name of the Prophet. Fatah said that, as a result of the comment, he was later jostled by a crowd of youths.

In an interview, Shaikh admitted making the comment but denied Fatah was jostled. Shaikh added that he does not consider Fatah a Muslim, or a representative of Islam.

With time to spare now, Fatah plans on writing a book. He also plans to volunteer with Bob Rae's Liberal leadership campaign.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...2154&t=TS_Home

[Delphinium]

Okay. So where are the "moderate" muslims to defend this man and woman? Why are they not giving loads of money to liberal or more progressive muslim politicians? This madness could stop and peaceful islam could previal if only someone would stand up and do something. help the war on terror people because it isn't just the "great satan" who is being terrorized.

[Sojiita]

Very sad and foreboding story

[Delphinium]

Originally Posted by Sojiita

Very sad and foreboding story

especially since they are in a western country. very scary that they are not safe.

[Grimmlok]

No shit.

If you can't deal with this country and it's progressive society, GET THE FUCK BACK TO YOUR SANDHEAP SHITPILE.

Otherwise, thankyou come again!

[strikeapose]

It shouldn't be just up to the moderate Muslims to defend this man. Anyone who supporsts the belief that people can speak their views without receiving death threats should stand up to defend him.

All of us regardless of religion who value free speech must defend those who struggle to voice opinions, especially peaceful opinions that strive to include everyone in society equally, like that of Mr.Fatah.

[Sojiita]

Originally Posted by Grimmlok

No shit.

If you can't deal with this country and it's progressive society, GET THE FUCK BACK TO YOUR SANDHEAP SHITPILE.

Otherwise, thankyou come again!

It looks like the 'progressive country' so well known for it's intolerance of well..intolerance itself has dropped the ball on this one. Surprised by your comment.

[ohmygoodness]

The radical muslims can hardly be representative of Canadian society.

[Sojiita]

I think I misunderstood the comment..Grimm was talking about the radical muslims-that they need to get out... right?..jeez I must need some sleep or something..I am misreading things today.

[pacific breeze]

People seem a bit touchy around here today. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

[Grimmlok]

Originally Posted by Sojiita

It looks like the 'progressive country' so well known for it's intolerance of well..intolerance itself has dropped the ball on this one. Surprised by your comment.

Yes, the nutjobs who are spitting out death threats need to be sent back to wherever they came from.