Tarafa Baghajati facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tarafa Baghajati
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| طرفة بغجاتي | |
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| Born | September 1, 1961 |
| Nationality | Syrian |
Tarafa Baghajati (Arabic: طرفة بغجاتي, born September 1, 1961) is a Syrian-born, Austrian Muslim activist and writer. He is a founding member of the Islamic group "Initiative muslimischer ÖsterreicherInnen" (IMÖ). He has lived in Vienna, Austria since 1986.
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Life
Tarafa Baghajati was born in Damascus, Syria, to parents Adnan Baghajati, an author and former Syrian Education minister, and Amal Homsi, an economic journalist.
In 1984 the Syrian government detained Baghajati for more than eight months. He spent three of them in Tadmor Prison due to his political views.
In 1999, he founded the Islamic advocacy group Initiative muslimischer ÖsterreicherInnen (IMÖ) with his wife Carla Amina Baghajati, Omar Al-Rawi, Mouddar Khouja and Andrea Saleh, who are members of the Muslim religious community in Austria.
Baghajati is a former board member (2001–2007, 2004–2007 Vice-President) and member of the Honorary Advisory Board of European Network Against Racism (ENAR) He is also a board member of the Platform for Intercultural Europe (PIE).
Baghajati is one of the founders and a board member of European Muslim Initiative for Social Cohesion (EMISCO).
Activism
Muslim Immigration and Muslim rights in Europe
Since moving to Austria in 1986, Baghajati has been active on the topics of immigration, anti-racism, human rights and political issues which involve the Middle East especially his home country of Syria. He is also active on the topics of Islam and Muslims in Austria and Europe, such as promoting Muslim women's rights relating to the headscarf and opposition to what he perceives to be Islamophobia through legal recognition to combat anti-Islamic prejudice. On 23 February 2015 he spoke at RT, and expressed his concern at the rise of Islamophobia in Europe. On 24 June 2015, Tarafa called for the Muslim community to be more engaged in European Policy.
The Syrian Revolution
Since the Syrian Conflict started in 2011, Baghajati publishes articles concerning the situation in Syria, mostly in Al-Hayat, and in Al-Quds Al-Arabi.
Tarafa Baghajati is against the government of Bashar al-Assad and supports "a pluralistic and democratic view of Syria". He warns in his articles of the confessional tension in Syria and in the Islamic countries, especially between Sunni and Shia.
On May 6, 2014 Baghajati stated in a conference his strong opinion against European Muslims travelling to fight in Syria.
Education
Baghajati graduated as civil engineer from Polytechnic University of Timișoara in 1986
Awards
The Muslim Austrian Initiative (IMOE) won democracy award by Margaretha Lupac Stiftung in 2008.
Personal life
He has been married to Carla Amina Baghajati since 1990 and has four children.
