Tarek Fatah Biography
Tarek Fatah was a political activist, writer, and broadcaster who was born on November 20, 1949, and passed away on April 24, 2023.
He was originally from Pakistan but later moved to Canada.
Tarek believed that everyone should have equal rights, including LGBT people.
He also thought that religion and government should be kept separate and did not support strict religious laws.
He often spoke out against the leaders of Pakistan and did not agree with how India and Pakistan were split into two countries.
In 1987, he left Pakistan, lived in Saudi Arabia for some time, and then moved to Canada.
Sadly, Tarek Fatah passed away from cancer at the age of 73.
Tarek Fatah Wikipedia
Full Name: Tarek Fatah
Date of Birth: November 20, 1949 (Sunday)
Place of Birth: Karachi, Sindh, West Pakistan (now Pakistan)
Nationality: Canadian (originally from Pakistan)
Education: Degree in Biochemistry from the University of Karachi
Religion: Islam
Died: April 24, 2023, in Toronto, Canada (because of cancer)
Height: 5 feet 6 inches (167 cm)
Weight: 75 kg (165 lbs)
Eyes: Black
Hair: Mixed black and white (Salt & Pepper)
Wife: Nargis Tapal (he was married when he passed away)
Daughter: Natasha Fatah
Siblings & Parents: Not much is known about them
He criticized Pakistan and its politics.
He once said that people who convert to Islam and wear a niqab (face covering) are joining a cult, which upset some people.
In 2016, he was against Bollywood actors Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor naming their son Taimur (after an old emperor).
Tarek Fatah’s Parents
His parents gave birth to Tarek Fatah in Karachi, Pakistan. There is, regrettably, no information known about his parents.
Tarek Fatah’s Early Life and Education
Tarek Fatah was born on November 20, 1949, in Karachi, Pakistan.
His family was originally from Bombay (now Mumbai) but moved to Karachi in 1947 when India was divided into two countries.
Even though he studied biochemistry at the University of Karachi, he decided to become a journalist instead.
In 1970, he started as a reporter for the Karachi Sun and later worked as an investigative journalist for Pakistan Television.
As a young man in the 1960s and 1970s, he was a strong supporter of leftist ideas and student activism.
Because of this, he was sent to jail twice by military governments.
In 1977, the government of Zia-ul-Haq accused him of speaking against the country and banned him from working as a journalist.
Later, Fatah left Pakistan and moved to Saudi Arabia before finally settling in Canada in 1987.
He gave up his Pakistani citizenship, partly because he felt the government treated the Ahmadiyya community unfairly.
Fatah uniquely described himself. He said he was “an Indian born in Pakistan, a Punjabi born into Islam, and an immigrant in Canada with a Muslim identity.”
He also felt like one of the Midnight’s Children (a term from Salman Rushdie’s famous book), meaning he believed he was taken away from a rich culture and left searching for a new home that never truly felt real.
Tarek Fatah’s Political Activities
Tarek Fatah was involved in politics for many years. He was a member of a political group in Canada called the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP).
In 1995, he tried to win a seat in an election in Scarborough North, but he did not succeed. Later, he worked for the party’s leader, Howard Hampton.
In 2006, he decided to leave the NDP and support another politician, Bob Rae, who was trying to become the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.
Fatah didn’t like that the NDP started allowing religious groups to have more influence in the party, so he left.
However, when Bob Rae lost, Fatah also criticized how some religious and cultural groups tried to control politics in the Liberal Party.
He believed that politics should bring people together, not divide them based on religion or race.
In 2008, Fatah publicly criticized the New Democratic Party (NDP) again.
He said that the party was letting extremist Muslim groups gain power and that they were making young Muslims feel like victims.
He no longer wanted to be a part of the NDP.
In 2011, he reported to the police that someone had threatened him on Twitter.
But when he went to the police station, he felt like the officers, especially a Muslim officer, didn’t take his complaint seriously.
He was upset with how the police handled the situation.
Even though Fatah considered himself a social democrat (someone who supports fairness and equality for everyone), he decided to vote for the Conservative Party in the 2015 elections.
In the 2016 U.S. presidential election, he liked both Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders, even though they had very different ideas.
He agreed with Trump’s idea of limiting immigration from countries that support extremist groups.
Tarek Fatah’s Work in Media
From 1996 to 2006, Tarek Fatah hosted a TV show called Muslim Chronicle.
It was a weekly talk show in Toronto where he discussed topics related to the Muslim community.
In 2011, he was supposed to have a debate with a man named Sheharyar Shaikh, who believed in polygamy (having more than one wife) and was against secular education for Muslims.
However, Fatah canceled at the last minute because he felt the audience was unfriendly and the person leading the debate had been changed suddenly.
He also said the police had warned him about safety threats. Later, Fatah and Shaikh appeared together on Sun News to discuss the role of Islam in ISIS.
From 2009 to 2015, Fatah worked on Toronto’s Newstalk 1010 radio station.
He was a regular guest on the John Moore Morning Show.
He also co-hosted a show called Friendly Fire with Ryan Doyle from 2009 to 2011.
Later, he had his own radio show called The Tarek Fatah Show on Sunday afternoons from 2011 to 2015.
Between 2012 and 2023, Fatah wrote opinion articles for the Toronto Sun and often appeared on Sun News Network before it shut down.
From 2018 to 2023, he hosted a YouTube talk show called What The Fatah, produced by New Delhi Times. The show focused on major political events happening around the world.
Tarek Fatah’s Views
Tarek Fatah had strong opinions about different topics and was not afraid to share them.
He was very critical of Pakistan. He questioned whether Pakistan should even exist and supported people in Balochistan who wanted to break away from Pakistan.
He believed that if Balochistan became independent, the rest of Pakistan might rejoin India. In 2013, when the Toronto Sun website was blocked in Pakistan, Fatah took credit for it.
Fatah spoke out against antisemitism (hatred toward Jewish people).
He supported Israel’s right to exist, but he also believed that Israel should stop its occupation of Palestinian lands.
In 2003, he disagreed with Irshad Manji, a writer who wrote a book about Islam.
At first, he criticized her book, saying it was made for people who already disliked Muslims.
Later, he admitted he was too harsh and that Manji was right about some problems in the Muslim world.
Fatah thought the partition of India (when India and Pakistan became separate countries) was a huge mistake.
He believed that the British divided India to keep control over the region and fight against Soviet influence.
He strongly opposed Sharia law (Islamic law) and said that radical Islamic groups were empowered by the U.S. and the CIA during the war in Afghanistan against the Soviet Union.
In 2017, after a tragic mosque shooting in Quebec City, he promoted a false conspiracy theory that some Muslims might have been involved in the attack, even though this was not true.
Fatah believed that many mosques in Canada spread dangerous ideas.
He even said, “Islam is filled with termites,” meaning that he thought it was being ruined from the inside.
He told parents to keep their kids away from mosques because he believed they were teaching extremist ideas.
In 2011, many Muslim leaders in Canada signed a statement against domestic violence and honor killings.
But Fatah refused to sign it because he believed that honor killings had roots in Islam and that religious leaders should do more to address gender inequality.
In 2008, when a Canadian magazine called Maclean’s was accused of publishing articles that were against Islam, a Human Rights Commission criticized the magazine.
But Fatah defended Maclean’s, saying that the commission was unfairly attacking freedom of speech. He used strong words, calling their decision “bulls**t.”
Overall, Fatah was known for his bold and controversial opinions, especially about Islam, Pakistan, and politics.
How People Reacted to Tarek Fatah
Some people praised Tarek Fatah for his bravery, while others criticized him for being too harsh.
A Canadian journalist, Michael Coren, said Fatah was brave for talking about problems in Islam.
But Wael Haddara, a Muslim leader, said Fatah rarely said anything positive about Muslims, so many stopped listening to him.
Syed Soharwardy, another Muslim leader, agreed that Fatah had some valuable ideas but felt he was unfairly judging all of Islam based on a few extremists.
In 2007, Maclean’s magazine named Fatah as one of the 50 most well-known and respected Canadians.
In 2008, the Toronto Star suggested that Canada’s Prime Minister should give him a seat in the Senate because of his unique views.
Fatah hosted a TV show called Fatah ka Fatwa, which many people liked.
However, some extremist groups were so angry with him that they even called for his assassination.
Fatah was also criticized for spreading fake news.
In 2020, during elections in Delhi, India, he shared an old video online and claimed it was something new happening in Delhi.
He also posted another video of women in burqas dancing and suggested it was from a protest, but it turned out to be an old clip he had shared before.
Because of these false posts, some people believed he was trying to create problems between religious groups in India.
A fact-checking website, AltNews, said that Fatah sometimes confused logical criticism with spreading hatred against Muslims.
In 2016, after giving a talk at Panjab University in India, Fatah got into an argument with students.
He called one student from Kargil a “Pakistani terrorist” and another Sikh student a Khalistani.
He also told a Hindu girl, “You are the real patriot because of your religion.”
He criticized students for showing too much respect to a librarian when they stood up as he entered the room.
In 2017, an Islamic scholar, Yasir Nadeem al Wajidi, challenged Fatah to a public debate about Islam, saying that if Fatah truly wanted to discuss the religion, he should do it in front of independent judges, not just on TV.
Yasir even started a show called Surgical Strike to argue against Fatah’s views.
In November 2017, Indian police arrested two men who were hired by a gangster named Chhota Shakeel to assassinate Fatah.
Tarek Fatah’s Work with Groups and Books
Muslim Canadian Congress (MCC):
In 2001, after the September 11 attacks, Fatah helped start a group called the Muslim Canadian Congress (MCC).
He was its spokesperson until 2006.
He spoke out against Sharia law in Canada, saying it shouldn’t be used for civil cases.
He also didn’t support Sharia banking, calling it a trick.
Fatah believed that religion and government should be separate, and he supported same-sex marriage.
In 2006, people who didn’t like his views sent angry emails about him to the media.
He later resigned from MCC because he was worried about his and his family’s safety.
Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC):
The Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC) was another group, but Fatah did not agree with its leaders.
In 2004, the CIC’s president, Mohamed Elmasry, said that all Israeli adults were targets for attacks.
Fatah and others asked him to resign.
In 2006, Elmasry accused Fatah of insulting Islam, calling him the “top anti-Islam Muslim”.
Fatah said this was like giving him a death sentence because calling someone an apostate can be dangerous.
A professor from Carleton University disagreed and said such arguments were common in the Muslim community.
Another CIC leader, Wahida Valiante, said Fatah’s ideas were completely different from what most Muslims believe.
Fatah complained to the RCMP (Canada’s police), saying that CIC’s words made it seem like he was a blasphemer, which could put him in danger.
Tarek Fatah Books
1. Chasing a Mirage (2008): This book argued that the idea of a global Islamic state goes against what Prophet Mohammed wanted.
Some people praised it, while others criticized it for errors in fact-checking. The book was shortlisted for a $35,000 award.
2. The Jew Is Not My Enemy (2010): This book challenged hatred against Jewish people. It won a major Canadian Book Award in Politics and History.
Tarek Fatah Death
Fatah passed away from cancer on April 24, 2023, at the age of 73.
His wife, Nargis Tapal Fatah, also passed away later that year in December 2023.
Some Interesting Facts About Tarek Fatah
1. Born in Pakistan, Lived in Canada: Tarek Fatah was born in Pakistan but later moved to Saudi Arabia. In 1987, he finally settled in Canada.
2. A Strong Voice in Journalism: In the 1970s, he worked as a reporter for The Karachi Sun and also did investigative journalism for Pakistan Television.
3. A Passionate Student Leader: In the 1960s, he was a student leader who supported leftist (liberal) ideas.
4. His Unique Introduction: He often specially introduced himself, saying:
“I am an Indian born in Pakistan, a Punjabi born in Islam, an immigrant in Canada with a Muslim mind, shaped by Marxist youth.”
He believed he was part of a lost generation searching for a better world.
5. Political Work in Canada: He was a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP) and worked for Premier Bob Rae.
6. TV Host: From 1996 to 2006, he hosted a show called Muslim Chronicle, where he discussed issues in the Muslim community.
7. Fighting Against Sharia Law: In 2001, he founded the Muslim Canadian Congress and spoke out against introducing Islamic Sharia law in Canada.
8. Famous Books: In 2008, he wrote Chasing a Mirage: The Tragic Illusion of an Islamic State. His 2010 book, The Jew Is Not My Enemy, won the Helen and Stan Vine Canadian Book Award for Politics and History.
Tarek Fatah’s Wife
Nargis Tapal was the wife of Tarek Fatah.
Although reports claim the pair had been married for more than 40 years, it is unclear exactly when they exchanged vows.
Muslim Canadian citizen Nargis Tapal resides in Toronto and practices Islam. Her birthdate is uncertain, though.
Tarek Fatah’s Children
Two children, Natasha and Nazia Fatah, are left to carry on Tarek Fatah’s legacy.
Journalist Natasha Fatah first announced her father’s loss on Twitter.
Tarek Fatah’s Siblings
The details of Tarek Fatah’s siblings were never disclosed.
Therefore, we are unable to confirm whether he was an only child.
Tarek Fatah’s Net Worth
Tarek Fatah’s estimated net worth before his death ranged from $1 million to $6 million.
His work as a journalist and author brought in this sum.
Tarek Fatah’s Legacy
1. Advocate for Secularism & Liberalism
He was a strong supporter of secular values, particularly within the Muslim community.
Founded the Muslim Canadian Congress in 2001, which opposed Sharia law in Canada and promoted the separation of religion from the state.
Fought for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and freedom of speech, challenging conservative Islamic practices.
2. Voice Against Religious Extremism
Criticized radical Islamism and its influence in Canada, Pakistan, and around the world.
Spoke against the use of Sharia law in legal systems, calling it outdated and oppressive.
Opposed polygamy, honor killings, and extremism, calling for reforms in the Muslim world.
3. Controversial Figure in Politics & Media
He frequently criticized Pakistan’s government and supported Baloch separatism, believing Pakistan should reunite with India.
His views on Islam, Israel, and the Middle East sparked debates, making him both respected and criticized.
He was accused of spreading misinformation and communal tensions, especially in Indian politics.
4. Influential Media Presence
Hosted the Muslim Chronicle (1996-2006) and later The Tarek Fatah Show, discussing current affairs and Muslim issues.
Regular columnist for Toronto Sun and commentator on various news platforms.
Authored several books, including:
Chasing a Mirage: The Tragic Illusion of an Islamic State (2008)
The Jew Is Not My Enemy (2010), which won a Canadian book award.
5. Impact on Canada & India
In Canada, he was a controversial but influential figure, promoting secularism and criticizing Islamic fundamentalism.
In India, he gained popularity for his pro-India stance and criticism of Pakistan, becoming a frequent guest on Indian media.
His talk show Fatah Ka Fatwa in India received both praise and backlash.
FAQs
1. Who was Tarek Fatah?
Tarek Fatah was a Pakistani-born Canadian writer, journalist, broadcaster, and political activist known for his secular views, criticism of Islamic extremism, and advocacy for liberal values.
2. When and where was Tarek Fatah born?
He was born on November 20, 1949, in Karachi, Sindh, West Pakistan (now Pakistan).
3. What was Tarek Fatah’s educational background?
He studied Biochemistry at the University of Karachi before shifting his focus to journalism and activism.
4. What was Tarek Fatah known for?
Criticizing Islamic extremism and radical ideologies.
Advocating for secularism and liberal values in Muslim communities.
Opposing the introduction of Sharia law in Canada.
Speaking out against Pakistan’s policies and supporting Baloch separatism.
Writing books and columns on politics, religion, and society.
5. What were Tarek Fatah’s most famous books?
Chasing a Mirage: The Tragic Illusion of an Islamic State (2008)
The Jew Is Not My Enemy: Unveiling the Myths that Fuel Muslim Anti-Semitism (2010)
6. What was Tarek Fatah’s stance on Pakistan?
He was a harsh critic of Pakistan, questioning its legitimacy and often advocating for its reunification with India. He also supported Balochistan’s independence movement.
7. Why was Tarek Fatah controversial?
He openly criticized Islamic extremism, leading to backlash from conservative Muslims.
His support for Israel and opposition to Sharia law sparked debates.
He was accused of spreading misinformation, especially in Indian politics.
8. What was Tarek Fatah’s role in the Muslim Canadian Congress?
He co-founded the Muslim Canadian Congress (MCC) in 2001, promoting secularism, gender equality, and the separation of religion from politics.
9. Was Tarek Fatah involved in politics?
Yes, he was a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP) and worked on the staff of Premier Bob Rae.
10. What were Tarek Fatah’s views on Islam?
He believed that Islam needed reform and criticized radical interpretations. However, he remained culturally connected to his Muslim heritage.
11. How did Tarek Fatah contribute to media and journalism?
Hosted the Muslim Chronicle, a weekly TV show in Canada (1996-2006).
Wrote columns for the Toronto Sun and other newspapers.
Frequently appeared on Indian news channels for political debates.
12. Was Tarek Fatah married?
Yes, he was married to Nargis Tapal, and they had a daughter named Natasha Fatah, who is also a journalist.
13. When and how did Tarek Fatah die?
He passed away on April 24, 2023, in Toronto, Canada, due to cancer.
14. How is Tarek Fatah remembered today?
As a fearless critic of religious extremism.
As a controversial yet influential voice in global politics.
As a strong advocate for secularism and freedom of speech.
Conclusion
Tarek Fatah was a bold and outspoken writer, journalist, and activist who dedicated his life to challenging religious extremism, advocating for secularism, and promoting liberal values.
Born in Pakistan but later settling in Canada, he used his platform to speak against radical ideologies, criticize Pakistan’s policies, and call for reforms within Islam.
Despite facing controversies, threats, and criticism, he remained steadfast in his beliefs.
His books, TV appearances, and political activism made him a significant yet polarizing figure in global discussions on Islam, democracy, and human rights.
His legacy lives on through his writings, speeches, and the impact he left on secular and progressive movements.
Whether admired or criticized, Tarek Fatah’s voice sparked important debates and challenged the status quo, ensuring that his influence would be remembered for years to come.
