Embassy, June 4, 2008
BOOK REVIEW
Seeing Through Illusions
By Michelle Collins
The Hill Times, Ottawa
Chasing A Mirage: The Tragic Illusion of An Islamic State
By Tarek Fatah
John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd.
$31.95 410 pages
By Tarek Fatah
John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd.
$31.95 410 pages
It seems perhaps as good a time as any for the always outspoken Tarek Fatah to be stoking the fires of the often touchy matter that is Islam within Canadian society.
As Canada's politicians talk endlessly of a massive need to attract more immigrants to curb a looming skilled labour shortage, there seems but a whisper of a national conversation about the ways in which the Muslim religion has recently become a hot potato of policy-making.
Mr. Fatah, however, is not one to shy away from sensitive and sometimes controversial debates. In his book Chasing A Mirage, Mr. Fatah leads the reader through centuries of history, exploring in detail the evolution of Islam across different parts of the world and into some of the present controversy in Western countries.
Through his personal experience, and drawing on 10 years of research, Mr. Fatah brings to life the story behind the Quran, behind the power of the caliphate and the imams, the Islamic states of the Middle East, and today's intricately connected network of mosques.
With precise clarity, Mr. Fatah delivers surprisingly frank commentary on issues and debates that, as demonstrated throughout his book, are playing out with surprising regularity in newspaper opinion pieces and behind the walls of the country's political institutions.
Among the complicated and politically sensitive issues Mr. Fatah is clearly determined to bring into mainstream are the ways in which extremists have taken advantage of Canadian society and politicians. A card-carrying Liberal who supported Bob Rae for the Liberal leadership, Mr. Fatah says there are major gaps within Canada's "chattering classes" that further contributes to a country-wide misunderstanding.
"I don't know of a single politician who has stood up and said that in this country we will not tolerate identity laws that are based on religion and race, almost no one," Mr. Fatah says in an interview last month. "And so their right-wing Islamist fanatics have a field day in planting in the head of young Canadian-born Muslims that if you find any obstacle in your way, it is because you are a Muslim and the West hates Islam."
Mr. Fatah takes particular issue with federal politicians who demonstrate ignorance about Canada's Muslims. He says they too often fall into the trap that only male mosque leaders and those who wear traditional clothing can speak for Canada's Muslims on the national stage.
"As if the 800,000 Muslims in Canada do nothing except pray and preach," Mr. Fatah says. "This notion of a false community is unfair and lends us to making errors in policy development."
In his book, Mr. Fatah explores the way leftist politicians are often susceptible to bending the rules in order to accommodate the extreme demands of some Muslims, calling it racism of lower expectations.
"It's saying if you are white mainstream we have one standard, but if you're Muslim we lower the standard to a level where we will patronize you in a condescending manner," he says. "Until politicians of all hues set standards for all Canadians and judge us all on the same barometer, only then will we be able to fight the Islamist threat to the West."
Mr. Fatah argues that some of the most concrete examples of the influence Islam has exerted over policy-making have occurred in Canada recently, issues which he explores at length and puts into clear context within the workings of government.
The relevant issues explored and the questions Mr. Fatah raises provide valuable contributions to the debate and are worth considering on all policy fronts where Islamic tradition is being promoted as an option.
Last year, Ontarians were exposed to one of the most encompassing debates around Islam as the campaign to introduce Sharia law into Ontario's judicial system nearly proved successful. Mr. Fatah provides a fascinating chapter on Sharia law with spectacular insight into what happened behind the public view of the campaign, and who some of the key actors influencing this were, and why.
Most recently, some financial institutions have introduced Islamic banking, yet another issue of policy with which Mr. Fatah disagrees and provides compelling, and disturbing, evidence as to why. Mr. Fatah also weighs in on the controversy surrounding the hijab in France, and within Canada.
Throughout the book, Mr. Fatah insists Islam is a religion of peace and freedom that was never meant to be taken to the levels some leaders have taken it to. Instead, he says, he has observed the ways in which some have taken advantage of the religion and the naiveté of Westerners toward it.
Near the end of the book, Mr. Fatah directs his anger at the ways in which young Muslim Canadians are prey to extremist influence and sometimes brought up to hate the country that has welcomed them.
"[M]any imams have taken advantage of the inherent decency as well as naiveté of Canadian society to pursue their goals," he writes in the book. "The Islamist attempt to hoodwink the mainstream establishment combined with the unfortunate need of politicians to dip into the 'ethnic vote bank,' has ensured that radicalism and calls for segregation from Western society continue unabated across the Western world."
A longtime activist, journalist, Muslim, and founder of the secular Muslim Canadian Congress, Mr. Fatah says he felt compelled to write this book because he has seen things getting worse in both Islamic states and in what he calls liberal secular societies.
"Something that never existed in this form and strength has today become a nightmare," Mr. Fatah says, linking the growing wealth and prominence of extremist Muslims with operations of the U.S. CIA throughout the Cold War. "I'm glad that so far...the Islamists have not come up with a response. The book is based on hard facts, backed by 60 pages of notes and a very extensive bibliography.
"I'm hoping that in a very respectful way to Islam, the Prophet and the Quran, I have taken things from the day after Muhammad dies."
As Canada's politicians talk endlessly of a massive need to attract more immigrants to curb a looming skilled labour shortage, there seems but a whisper of a national conversation about the ways in which the Muslim religion has recently become a hot potato of policy-making.
Mr. Fatah, however, is not one to shy away from sensitive and sometimes controversial debates. In his book Chasing A Mirage, Mr. Fatah leads the reader through centuries of history, exploring in detail the evolution of Islam across different parts of the world and into some of the present controversy in Western countries.
Through his personal experience, and drawing on 10 years of research, Mr. Fatah brings to life the story behind the Quran, behind the power of the caliphate and the imams, the Islamic states of the Middle East, and today's intricately connected network of mosques.
With precise clarity, Mr. Fatah delivers surprisingly frank commentary on issues and debates that, as demonstrated throughout his book, are playing out with surprising regularity in newspaper opinion pieces and behind the walls of the country's political institutions.
Among the complicated and politically sensitive issues Mr. Fatah is clearly determined to bring into mainstream are the ways in which extremists have taken advantage of Canadian society and politicians. A card-carrying Liberal who supported Bob Rae for the Liberal leadership, Mr. Fatah says there are major gaps within Canada's "chattering classes" that further contributes to a country-wide misunderstanding.
"I don't know of a single politician who has stood up and said that in this country we will not tolerate identity laws that are based on religion and race, almost no one," Mr. Fatah says in an interview last month. "And so their right-wing Islamist fanatics have a field day in planting in the head of young Canadian-born Muslims that if you find any obstacle in your way, it is because you are a Muslim and the West hates Islam."
Mr. Fatah takes particular issue with federal politicians who demonstrate ignorance about Canada's Muslims. He says they too often fall into the trap that only male mosque leaders and those who wear traditional clothing can speak for Canada's Muslims on the national stage.
"As if the 800,000 Muslims in Canada do nothing except pray and preach," Mr. Fatah says. "This notion of a false community is unfair and lends us to making errors in policy development."
In his book, Mr. Fatah explores the way leftist politicians are often susceptible to bending the rules in order to accommodate the extreme demands of some Muslims, calling it racism of lower expectations.
"It's saying if you are white mainstream we have one standard, but if you're Muslim we lower the standard to a level where we will patronize you in a condescending manner," he says. "Until politicians of all hues set standards for all Canadians and judge us all on the same barometer, only then will we be able to fight the Islamist threat to the West."
Mr. Fatah argues that some of the most concrete examples of the influence Islam has exerted over policy-making have occurred in Canada recently, issues which he explores at length and puts into clear context within the workings of government.
The relevant issues explored and the questions Mr. Fatah raises provide valuable contributions to the debate and are worth considering on all policy fronts where Islamic tradition is being promoted as an option.
Last year, Ontarians were exposed to one of the most encompassing debates around Islam as the campaign to introduce Sharia law into Ontario's judicial system nearly proved successful. Mr. Fatah provides a fascinating chapter on Sharia law with spectacular insight into what happened behind the public view of the campaign, and who some of the key actors influencing this were, and why.
Most recently, some financial institutions have introduced Islamic banking, yet another issue of policy with which Mr. Fatah disagrees and provides compelling, and disturbing, evidence as to why. Mr. Fatah also weighs in on the controversy surrounding the hijab in France, and within Canada.
Throughout the book, Mr. Fatah insists Islam is a religion of peace and freedom that was never meant to be taken to the levels some leaders have taken it to. Instead, he says, he has observed the ways in which some have taken advantage of the religion and the naiveté of Westerners toward it.
Near the end of the book, Mr. Fatah directs his anger at the ways in which young Muslim Canadians are prey to extremist influence and sometimes brought up to hate the country that has welcomed them.
"[M]any imams have taken advantage of the inherent decency as well as naiveté of Canadian society to pursue their goals," he writes in the book. "The Islamist attempt to hoodwink the mainstream establishment combined with the unfortunate need of politicians to dip into the 'ethnic vote bank,' has ensured that radicalism and calls for segregation from Western society continue unabated across the Western world."
A longtime activist, journalist, Muslim, and founder of the secular Muslim Canadian Congress, Mr. Fatah says he felt compelled to write this book because he has seen things getting worse in both Islamic states and in what he calls liberal secular societies.
"Something that never existed in this form and strength has today become a nightmare," Mr. Fatah says, linking the growing wealth and prominence of extremist Muslims with operations of the U.S. CIA throughout the Cold War. "I'm glad that so far...the Islamists have not come up with a response. The book is based on hard facts, backed by 60 pages of notes and a very extensive bibliography.
"I'm hoping that in a very respectful way to Islam, the Prophet and the Quran, I have taken things from the day after Muhammad dies."
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Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
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MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
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German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
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