Raheel Raza Explained

Raheel Raza
Birth Place:Pakistan
Movement:Progressive Islam
Known For:Opponent of Islamic terrorism and Islamism
Alma Mater:Karachi University
Notable Works:Their Jihad... Not My Jihad!: a Muslim Canadian Woman Speaks Out (2005)
Occupation:Journalist, author, public speaker, media consultant, anti-racism activist, and interfaith discussion leader
Awards:Constance Hamilton Award of the City of Toronto
Canadian Ethnic Journalists & Writer's Club award for excellence in journalism[1]
Website:Raheelraza.com

Raheel Raza (born 1949–50) is a Pakistani-Canadian journalist, author, public speaker, media consultant, anti-racism activist, and interfaith discussion leader. She is among the most prominent Muslim supporters of Israel.[2] [3] [4] [5] She lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[6]

She is the author of Their Jihad, Not My Jihad: A Muslim Canadian Woman Speaks Out.[2] She opposes Islamic extremism.[7]

She is an honorary associate of the National Secular Society[8]

Early life

Raza is a Pakistani currently living in Canada.[9] She graduated from Karachi University with degrees in Psychology and English.[10] In 1989, she, her husband and her two sons moved to Toronto.[5] [10]

Activism and political views

On Islam

She has unequivocally condemned the September 11th terrorist attacks and all terrorism and violence in the name of religion, as well as that done in the name of Islam specifically.[3] [7] She claims "radicals" have their own interpretation of Islam, and that the Qur'an does not justify suicide bombings.[11]

She has said that hatred has been preached in places of worship in Canada and urges parents to be on the alert for extremism.[12] Raza identifies herself as a libertarian.[13]

Female-led mixed gender prayers

Raza has been a human rights activist, and has advocated gender equality, particularly for Muslim women.[7] [14] She became the first woman to lead mixed-gender Muslim prayers in Canada, in 2005.[9] [15] [16] [17] [18] Raza termed it a "silent revolution" and said she hopes to become an imam someday. She also dreams of having a mosque "for women by women".[15] She received death threats following the 2005 prayer event.[19] [20]

After female imam Amina Wadud received death threats for leading mixed-gender prayers in New York City,[9] [21] Raza was invited by Taj Hargey in 2008 to go to Oxford and become the first Muslim-born woman to lead a mixed-gender British congregation in Friday prayers.[22] According to Muslim reformist Tahir Aslam Gora, such prayers did not become a regular practice.[16] The Canadian Islamic Congress said Raza's concerns were a "non-issue for Canadian Muslims".[17]

Opposition to prayers in schools

Raza opposed congregational Muslim Friday prayers in public schools, saying that in 1988 the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that the use of the Lord's Prayer in public schools was not appropriate. She said such prayers are contrary to the notion of separation of church and state. She called the prayers "discrimination and harassment" for requiring girls to pray at the back of the room and for disclosing their "private personal female condition".[23]

Banning veils

Raza has argued for a public ban in Canada against the hijab and the burqa.[24]

Opposition to Park51 Muslim community center

See also: Park51. In August 2010 Raza, along with Tarek Fatah, both from the Muslim Canadian Congress, opposed the Muslim community center, Park51, located near the World Trade Center site (or Ground zero). She describes the project as a Fitna, meaning that it was done intentionally to provoke a reaction and make trouble.[25]

In a Fox News interview with Bill O'Reilly she referred to Mayor Michael Bloomberg as having a "bleeding heart" for this cause that is actually dangerous for those who were affected by the 9/11 terror attacks, as the location of the Ground Zero Mosque seemed unnecessary and hurtful for the victims of the attacks.[26]

On immigration

Raza has called the Canadian government to suspend all immigration from "terror-producing" countries, like Iran in 2012.[27]

Organizations

Raza writes and records videos for the media websites Rebel News and True North Centre for Public Policy. She is a board member of and Director of Interfaith Affairs for the Muslim Canadian Congress.[28] [29] [30]

She founded and is currently president of Forum for Learning, an interfaith discussion group. It is a non-profit organization.[31]

In 2006, the National Muslim Christian Liaison Committee honoured her for promoting Muslim-Christian dialogue in the wake of the Pope Benedict controversy.[32]

Donald Trump

Raza stated in an interview with Bill Maher that Donald Trump was "an equal opportunity offender. And, secondly, this is supposed to be the First World, the civilized world, but he is really fudging that line about civility.".[33] In a later article for USA Today, Raza wrote that "as politically incorrect as his language may be," Trump had "succeeded in sparking an international conversation about radical Islam that we must have now", and called for Trump to "step up and put moderate Muslims on stage."[34]

Writing

Raza is a freelance writer.[35] In 2000, she received an award from the Canadian Ethnic Journalists and Writers Club.[10] She has lectured at York University on the portrayal of Muslims in the media.[36]

Raza is the author of Their Jihad, Not My Jihad: a Muslim Canadian woman speaks out, a collection of her op-ed columns from the Toronto Star.[2] [37] She is also a poet and a playwright.[11]

Criticism

Raza has been criticized for her support and involvement in anti-Muslim groups and policies. After the 2014 Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu ramming attack, she stated in her blog that there needs to be a suspension of Muslim immigrants to Canada and that all mosques should be closed for three months and claimed that this action would not be an abuse of religious freedom.[38] Her support and association with groups and projects described as anti-Muslim like the Clarion Project[39] and ACT! for America[40] which have funded and aided anti-Muslim legislations and policies within the USA[41] has also been criticized. She has been criticized as being "far from the "reformist" and "progressive" individual she claims to be, Raza's extensive history of anti-Muslim statements and open ties to hate groups make her fundamentally undemocratic."

Works

Books

Documentary film

Raza participated, together with eight other women's rights activists, in the documentary film Honor Diaries[42] which explores the issues of gender-based violence and inequality in Muslim-majority societies. Her personal story was featured alongside those of the other activists, all of whom are working to combat gender prejudice that is embedded in honor-based societies.[43]

Select articles

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Raheel Raza's Official Website. Raheelraza.com. August 9, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100815004615/http://www.raheelraza.com/about.htm. 2010-08-15. live.
  2. Book: Seismic Shifts: Leading in Times of Change. Christopher White. United Church Publishing. 2006. 1-55134-150-6. August 9, 2010.
  3. Book: Emmaus Road: churches making their way forward. Donna Sinclair, Christopher White. Wood Lake Publishing Inc.. 2003. 1-55145-485-8 . August 9, 2010.
  4. Book: Encountering the transnational: women, Islam and the politics of interpretation. Meena Sharify-Funk. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.. 2008. 978-0-7546-7123-7. August 9, 2010.
  5. Web site: Raheel Raza's Official Website . Raheelraza.com . August 9, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100814165238/http://www.raheelraza.com/detailprofile.htm . 2010-08-14 . live .
  6. News: Bhutto killing will impede rights, democracy, observers say . CanWest News Service . Canada.com . December 27, 2007 . August 9, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121109015002/http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=059749a3-ed40-4c0a-b8ad-e908151881ea . November 9, 2012 .
  7. Web site: McGregor . Charles . Speaker looks to be No. 1 on world hate list . https://web.archive.org/web/20110718042624/http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/durham/article/94029 . 18 July 2011 . DurhamRegion.com . February 19, 2008 . June 21, 2015.
  8. Web site: National Secular Society Honorary Associates. National Secular Society. Retrieved 27 July 2019
  9. News: Giles Tremlett . Giles Tremlett . Muslim women launch international 'gender jihad' . The Guardian . October 31, 2005 . August 9, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130829185630/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/oct/31/gender.religion . 2013-08-29 . live .
  10. Book: Writing The Sacred: A Psalm-Inspired Path To Appreciating And Writing Sacred Poetry. Ray McGinnis. Wood Lake Publishing Inc.. 2005. 1-896836-73-9. August 9, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20140105044054/http://books.google.com/books?id=wzTPht3-PEUC&pg=PA175&dq=Raheel+Raza&hl=en&ei=GWlfTI_oI4TGlQeYxYGYCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDsQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=Raheel%20Raza&f=false. 2014-01-05. live.
  11. Web site: Rabbi, Muslim and Catholic see other faiths' similarities . https://web.archive.org/web/20110706193658/http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2007-05-03/Regional_news/037.html . 6 July 2011 . Orangeville Citizen . May 3, 2007 . June 21, 2015.
  12. News: Toronto Bomb Plot Case; Homegrown extremism. https://web.archive.org/web/20090604192011/http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/toronto-bomb-plot/homegrown-extremism.html . 4 June 2009 . CBC News Staff . . June 4, 2006 . Jun 21, 2015.
  13. Web site: Muslim Women Who Wear Veils Are Choosing to be Unequal . 12 December 2015 . 2016-04-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160411135541/http://reason.com/archives/2015/12/12/the-niqab-or-equality . 2016-04-11 . live .
  14. Web site: Three faiths in conversation . Orangeville Citizen . March 29, 2007 . August 9, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110706193716/http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2007-03-29/Local_news/045.html . July 6, 2011 .
  15. News: Karla . Bruning . Muslims Debate Traditions that Deny Women the Right to Lead Prayer in Mosques . Lakeland Ledger. December 2, 2006 . June 15, 2015.
  16. News: Tahir Aslam Gora . Opinions – Canada's a centre for Islamic reform . . June 26, 2008 . August 9, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120830134747/http://www.thespec.com/opinion/article/148621--canada-s-a-centre-for-islamic-reform . 2012-08-30 . live .
  17. News: Woman leads mixed Friday congregation in Canada . Khalid Hasan . . July 3, 2005 . August 9, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121020154824/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_3-7-2005_pg7_36 . 2012-10-20 . live .
  18. News: Women's lib becomes a gender jihad for Muslims . Giles Tremlett . Giles Tremlett . . October 31, 2005 . August 9, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120526161429/http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/womens-lib-becomes-a-gender-jihad-for-muslims/2005/10/31/1130720481936.html . 2012-05-26 . live .
  19. Web site: Jacobs . Mindelle . 'Honour' abuse more prevalent than we think . . June 19, 2010 . August 9, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120330194138/http://test.calgarysun.com/comment/columnists/mindelle_jacobs/2010/06/20/14452701.html . March 30, 2012 .
  20. Web site: First woman to lead Friday prayers in UK . . 23 October 2011 . 2017-09-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170716003711/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/first-woman-to-lead-friday-prayers-in-uk-1996228.html . 2017-07-16 . live .
  21. Web site: Lakeland Ledger - Google News Archive Search.
  22. News: Britain: First woman to lead Friday prayers. Jerome Taylor. The New Zealand Herald. June 10, 2010. August 9, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20121023142302/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/religion-and-beliefs/news/article.cfm?c_id=301&objectid=10650926&pnum=0. 2012-10-23. live.
  23. Raheel Raza. Speech at TDSB Rally Against Prayer in School Aug 8, 2011 by Raheel Raza
  24. News: Jonathan Montpetit . Student files rights case over Quebec niqab ban . . March 3, 2010 . August 9, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100306135009/http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/774227--student-files-rights-case-over-quebec-niqab-ban . 2010-03-06 . live .
  25. Web site: We Muslims Know Ground Zero Mosque Meant to Be a Deliberate Provocation . August 9, 2010 . Fox News Channel . December 14, 2012 . 2015-04-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150404013721/http://nation.foxnews.com/ground-zero-mosque/2010/08/09/we-muslims-know-ground-zero-mosque-meant-be-deliberate-provocation . dead .
  26. Web site: Muslim Raheel Raza Opposes Ground Zero Mosque - Pawns Bloomberg. 9 August 2010 . Youtube. 12 June 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20140305214635/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHg9gzo9o-U. 2014-03-05. live.
  27. Web site: Iran's "Fifth Column" Targets Canadian Schoolchildren . 7 June 2012 . 2012-06-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120609235321/http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/david-b-harris/irans-fifth-column-target_b_1577752.html . 2012-06-09 . live .
  28. News: One Law for All . Natasha Fatah . Natasha Fatah . . April 1, 2004 . August 9, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071024011610/http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_fatah/20040401.html . October 24, 2007 .
  29. Web site: Religious school funding divides community groups . CTV Edmonton . October 9, 2007 . August 9, 2010.
  30. News: Raza . Raheel . Mischief in Manhattan . . August 2, 2010 . August 9, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100818091927/http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Mischief+Manhattan/3370303/story.html . August 18, 2010 .
  31. News: Celebrating Differences. The Montreal Gazette. October 2, 2007. August 9, 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121109015150/http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/story.html?id=e3f561e0-f9f2-4a54-985d-330d99b765e5. November 9, 2012.
  32. Web site: Canada's Catholic-Muslim dialogue continues forward in wake of pope's remarks . Michael Swan . Catholic Online . September 22, 2006 . August 9, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121010032222/http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=21369 . October 10, 2012 .
  33. News: Trump's an "equal opportunity offender": Raheel Raza slams the Donald for hate-mongering against Muslims on Bill Maher. Brendan Gauthier. 2016-03-06. Salon. 2016-08-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20160828180230/http://www.salon.com/2016/03/05/trumps_an_equal_opportunity_offender_raheel_raza_slams_the_donald_for_hate_mongering_against_muslims_on_bill_maher/. 2016-08-28. live.
  34. News: Trump is right about radical Islam: Raheel Raza. Raheel Raza. 2016-08-17. USA Today. 2017-09-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20170507093830/https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2016/08/17/trump-muslim-woman-activist-right-islam-islamophobia-ban-column/88863820/. 2017-05-07. live.
  35. Book: Succeeding from the Margins of Canadian Society: A Strategic Resource for New Immigrants, Refugees and International Students. Francis Adu-Febiri, Everett Ofori. CCB Publishing. 2009. 978-1-926585-27-7. August 9, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20140108000048/http://books.google.com/books?id=YTD_wBjrIpoC&pg=PA34&dq=Raheel+Raza&hl=en&ei=GWlfTI_oI4TGlQeYxYGYCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CEEQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=Raheel%20Raza&f=false. 2014-01-08. live.
  36. Dorn Townsend."Building an Enclave Around a Mosque in Suburban Toronto", The New York Times, November 18, 2007, accessed August 10, 2010
  37. Web site: Gloria Elayadathusseril . Razor-sharp style; Immigrant, author, journalist, speaker and consultant Raheel Razar . dead . Canadianimmigrant.ca . August 9, 2010 . March 12, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200312204900/http://www.canadianimmigrant.ca/immigrantstories/career/article/2496 .
  38. Web site: Supporter of anti-Muslim policies Raheel Raza speaks at Minnesota State Capitol. 29 January 2019. splcenter.org. 13 December 2019.
  39. Web site: Factsheet: Clarion Project. 3 April 2018. bridge.georgetown.edu. 13 December 2019.
  40. Web site: Factsheet: Act for America. 4 December 2019. bridge.georgetown.edu. 13 December 2019.
  41. Web site: Funding fear of Muslims: $206m went to promoting 'hatred' of American Muslims. Kazem. Halima. 20 June 2016. The Guardian. 14 December 2019.
  42. Web site: Honor Diaries.
  43. Web site: Chicago Film Festival. 26 February 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140303024830/http://www.chicagofilmfestival.com/films_and_schedule/movie.php?show=honor_diaries. 3 March 2014.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Raheel Raza".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.