Tarafa Baghajati facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tarafa Baghajati
|
|
|---|---|
| طرفة بغجاتي | |
|
|
| Born | September 1, 1961 |
| Nationality | Syrian |
Tarafa Baghajati (born September 1, 1961) is an important activist and writer from Syria who now lives in Austria. He helped start a group called "Initiative muslimischer ÖsterreicherInnen" (IMÖ). This group works to support Muslims in Austria. Tarafa has lived in Vienna, Austria since 1986.
Contents
His Life Story
Tarafa Baghajati was born in Damascus, Syria. His father, Adnan Baghajati, was an author and a former education minister in Syria. His mother, Amal Homsi, was a journalist who wrote about money and business.
In 1984, when Tarafa was younger, the Syrian government held him for over eight months because of his political ideas. He spent three of those months in Tadmor Prison.
In 1999, he started the Islamic group "Initiative muslimischer ÖsterreicherInnen" (IMÖ). He founded it with his wife, Carla Amina Baghajati, and other members of the Muslim community in Austria. This group works to speak up for Muslims in Austria.
Tarafa was also a board member of the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) for several years. He also serves on the board of the Platform for Intercultural Europe (PIE). He is also one of the founders and a board member of the European Muslim Initiative for Social Cohesion (EMISCO). These groups work to bring people from different cultures together and fight against unfair treatment.
His Activism Work
Fighting Harmful Practices
..... This practice is sometimes done in parts of Africa and Europe. He has spoken out against it and called for it to be stopped.
In March 2009, Tarafa Baghajati met with a well-known Islamic scholar, Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi. They worked together to get a special religious ruling, called a fatwa. ..... It called the practice "devil's work" because it goes against the good values of Islam. Tarafa hoped that this practice would end by 2020.
He continued his efforts, meeting with other important religious leaders. ..... In September 2012, he met Sudanese Sheikh Hassan al-Turabi, who also spoke out against the practice.
Supporting Muslims in Europe
Since moving to Austria in 1986, Tarafa Baghajati has been very active in topics like immigration and human rights. He also works on political issues related to the Middle East, especially his home country of Syria.
He is also a strong voice for Islam and Muslims in Austria and Europe. He supports the rights of Muslim women, including their right to wear a headscarf. He also works against Islamophobia, which is unfair prejudice against Muslims. He believes that legal recognition can help fight this prejudice. In February 2015, he shared his worries about the rise of Islamophobia in Europe. In June 2015, Tarafa encouraged the Muslim community to get more involved in European politics.
The Syrian Conflict
Since the Syrian Conflict began in 2011, Tarafa Baghajati has written many articles about the situation in Syria. He often publishes these articles in newspapers like Al-Hayat and Al-Quds Al-Arabi.
Tarafa Baghajati does not support the government of Bashar al-Assad. He wants to see a Syria where many different groups can live together peacefully and democratically. He has also warned about tensions between different religious groups in Syria and other Islamic countries.
In May 2014, Tarafa Baghajati spoke at a conference. He strongly stated his opinion that European Muslims should not travel to Syria to fight in the conflict.
Education Background
Tarafa Baghajati studied civil engineering at the Polytechnic University of Timișoara. He graduated in 1986.
Awards and Recognition
The Muslim Austrian Initiative (IMOE), the group Tarafa helped found, won a democracy award in 2008. This award was given by the Margaretha Lupac Stiftung.
In February 2016, Tarafa received the Golden Medal of the Province of Vienna. .....
Personal Life
Tarafa Baghajati married Carla Amina Baghajati in 1990. They have four children together.
