Victor Begg Explained

Victor Begg
Birth Name:Mirza Ghalib Begg
Birth Place:Hyderabad, Dominion of India

Mirza Ghalib (Victor) Begg (born 1947) is an Indian-born Muslim American author, philanthropist and community leader. Alongside his column-writing and community activism, Begg is a former entrepreneur and businessman who opened several furniture stores throughout metro-Detroit in the 1980s.

Early life and education

Victor Begg was born to an upper-class family of eight siblings in Hyderabad, India.[1]

Career

Muslim community activist

In the midst of opening the first of his Naked Furniture franchises, Begg began to invest time as a leader in metro-Detroit.[2] In the early 1980s, he co-founded an umbrella organization that would eventually become the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan (CIOM) focused on “civic, interfaith, media and other forums to represent a ‘singular’ community voice.” The council was formally established in 1988 and incorporated in 1993.[3] During the incorporation phase, he established the Muslim Unity Center mosque in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan with the intention of creating an inclusive environment for a diversity of ethnic groups and various schools of thought within Islam.[4] He has been widely regarded as a religious leader for Muslims in metro-Detroit since the 1980s.[5]

After establishing the CIOM and the Muslim Unity Center in the 1990s, Begg headed the Muslim American Alliance. The group focused on media, networking and advocacy, and Begg effectively became a spokesman for the community where he fielded queries from journalists and offered perspective on issues affecting Islamic communities.

In 2007, then-CIOM-chairmen Begg organized Sunni and Shi’ite leaders in Michigan to sign a peace pact affirming their commitment to speak out against conflicts between the two sects.[6] [7] Then in 2009, he began a collaboration with Jewish community volunteers in metro-Detroit called “Mitzvah Day,” where non-profit Islamic and Jewish groups collaborated to feed and clothe local residents on and around Christmas.[8] [9] In 2011, Begg, alongside Jewish and Chaldean leaders, organized an Interfaith Health Fair run by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Detroit and the CIOM.[10]

Throughout 2012, Begg spoke out against Muslim violence in response to the publishing of "Innocence of Muslims," a film critical of Muhammad and the Muslim faith.[11]

In 2013, Begg criticized McDonald's for rolling back the decision to sell halal food in Dearborn after a $700,000 settlement against the restaurant chain that alleged the menu items were not consistently halal.[12]

Writer and author

Currently, Begg serves as a guest columnist for several Michigan- and Florida-based newspapers. He has published work in the Treasure Coast Palm,[13] Detroit Free Press,[14] USA Today,[15] Florida Today,[16] and Lebanon Daily News,[17] among others. He has also made guest appearances on several national news and regional media outlets, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NPR, and the Los Angeles Times [18] His columns often revolve around acknowledging and working to resolve conflicts worldwide involving Muslims and tensions surrounding Muslim-Americans.[19] Begg is a self-proclaimed supporter of the Republican Party.[20]

In February 2019, Begg released his first full-length book, Our Muslim Neighbors: Achieving the American Dream, an Immigrant's Memoir.[21]

Personal life

Begg married Lata Shanbhag in 1975 after meeting at the University of Detroit. They have 3 children.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Muslim activist details interfaith work in 'true-blue American story'. Hicks. Mark. Detroit News. en. 2020-03-19.
  2. Web site: Get to Know: Victor Begg '74, sharing his American story. 2019-09-18. en-US. 2020-03-19.
  3. Web site: History. mimuslimcouncil. en. 2020-03-19.
  4. Web site: Muslim Unity Center (CJ). hwpi.harvard.edu. en. 2020-03-19.
  5. Book: Pupcenoks, Juris. Western Muslims and Conflicts Abroad: Conflict Spillovers to Diasporas. 2015-12-07. Routledge. 978-1-317-42632-5. en.
  6. Web site: Sunni and Shiite Muslims in the U.S. Come Together in Life and Prayer. 2015-03-25. Fox News. en-US. 2020-03-19.
  7. Web site: Area Muslims promote new code of unity. 2007-04-23. Los Angeles Times. en-US. 2020-04-01.
  8. Web site: Detroit's Muslim community joins Jewish groups to help with Mitzvah Day. 2009-12-18. Crain's Detroit Business. en. 2020-03-19.
  9. News: Karoub. Jeff. Mich. Muslims join Jews for Christmas Day Mitzvah. 2009-12-24. Boston.com. 2020-04-01.
  10. Web site: Mixing it up in Motor City mosque. The Jerusalem Post JPost.com. 2020-03-19.
  11. Web site: Detroit-area Islamic, Catholic leaders: Violence not answer to anti-Muhammad film. SLEZAK. JOE. The Oakland Press. en. 2020-04-01.
  12. Web site: McDonald's Retreats From Selling Halal Food After Lawsuit. AP.com. Katie Little With. 2013-06-25. www.cnbc.com. 2020-04-01.
  13. Web site: Guest column: Anti-sharia protesters are selling phantom threats. Treasure Coast Newspapers. en. 2020-03-19.
  14. Web site: ISIS, extremists do not represent majority of Muslims (Guest column) . Michigan. en. 2020-03-19.
  15. Web site: Kashmir, rugged and beautiful, is a ticking time bomb between India and Pakistan. Begg. Victor. USA TODAY. en-US. 2020-03-19.
  16. Web site: Opinion: After NYC attack, Muslim-Americans face fear of retaliation. Florida Today. en. 2020-03-19.
  17. Web site: Don't let terrorists define the narrative. Lebanon Daily News. en. 2020-03-19.
  18. Web site: Longtime Metro Detroit Muslim advocate returning to Michigan for April book tour. 2019-03-31. en-US. 2020-03-19.
  19. Web site: After NYC attack, Muslim-Americans face fear of retaliation Guest column. Treasure Coast Newspapers. en. 2020-03-19.
  20. Web site: I'm a Republican, an immigrant and a Muslim — and I want my party back Guest column. TCPalm. en. 2020-03-19.
  21. Web site: Victor Begg's 'Our Muslim Neighbors': Meet a Muslim this year—build a healthier community. 2019-02-04. Explore. en-US. 2020-03-19.