Edit filter log

'{{Short description|Canadian journalist and activist}} {{Infobox person | name = Raheel Raza | image = Raheel Raza by Gage Skidmore.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Raza speaking in 2014. | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|df=yes|60|2010|June|10}}<ref name="nzherald1"/> | birth_place = Pakistan | nationality = | ethnicity = | movement = [[Progressive Islam]] | citizenship = | other_names = | known_for = Opponent of [[Islamic terrorism]] and [[Islamism]] | education = | alma_mater = [[Karachi University]] | employer = | notable works = ''Their Jihad... Not My Jihad!: a Muslim Canadian Woman Speaks Out'' (2005) | occupation = Journalist, author, public speaker, media consultant, anti-racism activist, and interfaith discussion leader | years_active = | home_town = | salary = | networth = | height = | weight = | title = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | party = | opponents = | boards = | spouse = | partner = | children = | parents = | relations = | callsign = | awards = [[Constance Hamilton]] Award of the City of Toronto<br>Canadian Ethnic Journalists & Writer's Club award for excellence in journalism<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raheelraza.com/about.htm|title=Raheel Raza's Official Website|publisher=Raheelraza.com|accessdate=August 9, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815004615/http://www.raheelraza.com/about.htm|archive-date=2010-08-15|url-status=live}}</ref> | signature = | signature_alt = | website = [http://www.raheelraza.com/ Raheelraza.com] | footnotes = | box_width = }} '''Raheel Raza''' (born 1949–50) is a [[Pakistani-Canadian]] [[journalist]], [[author]], [[public speaker]], media consultant, anti-racism [[activist]], and [[interfaith]] discussion leader, the member of the advisory board of the far-right [[Rebel News]].<ref>[https://archive.is/DXGe5 Advisory Board - Rebel News]</ref>. She is among the most prominent [[Muslim supporters of Israel]].<ref name="google1">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=05uNy-E8vqYC&q=Raheel+Raza&pg=PT57 |title=Seismic Shifts: Leading in Times of Change|author=Christopher White|publisher=United Church Publishing|year= 2006|isbn=1-55134-150-6|accessdate=August 9, 2010}}</ref><ref name="google2">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V0sK_dZPnqkC&q=Raheel+Raza&pg=PA54 |title=Emmaus Road: churches making their way forward|author=Donna Sinclair, Christopher White|publisher=Wood Lake Publishing Inc.|year= 2003|isbn=1-55145-485-8 |accessdate=August 9, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UxahkSKgV1sC&q=Raheel+Raza&pg=PA55 |title=Encountering the transnational: women, Islam and the politics of interpretation|author=Meena Sharify-Funk|publisher= [[Ashgate Publishing]], Ltd.|year= 2008|isbn=978-0-7546-7123-7|accessdate=August 9, 2010}}</ref><ref name="raheelraza1">{{cite web |url=http://www.raheelraza.com/detailprofile.htm |title=Raheel Raza's Official Website |publisher=Raheelraza.com |accessdate=August 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100814165238/http://www.raheelraza.com/detailprofile.htm |archive-date=2010-08-14 |url-status=live }}</ref> She lives in [[Toronto]], Ontario, Canada.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=059749a3-ed40-4c0a-b8ad-e908151881ea |title=Bhutto killing will impede rights, democracy, observers say |agency=CanWest News Service |publisher=Canada.com |date=December 27, 2007 |accessdate=August 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109015002/http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=059749a3-ed40-4c0a-b8ad-e908151881ea |archivedate=November 9, 2012 }}</ref> She is the author of ''Their Jihad, Not My Jihad: A Muslim Canadian Woman Speaks Out''.<ref name="google1"/> She opposes [[Islamic extremism]].<ref name="newsdurhamregion1">{{cite web|last=McGregor |first=Charles |url=http://www.durhamregion.com/news-story/3481239-speaker-looks-to-be-no-1-on-world-hate-list/ |title= Speaker looks to be No. 1 on world hate list |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718042624/http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/durham/article/94029 |archivedate=18 July 2011 |publisher=DurhamRegion.com |date=February 19, 2008 |accessdate=June 21, 2015}}</ref> She is an honorary associate of the [[National Secular Society]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.secularism.org.uk/honoraryassociates.html|title=National Secular Society Honorary Associates}} National Secular Society. Retrieved 27 July 2019</ref> ==Early life== Raza is a Pakistani currently living in Canada.<ref name="guardian2005">{{cite news |author=Giles Tremlett |author-link=Giles Tremlett |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/oct/31/gender.religion |title=Muslim women launch international 'gender jihad' |newspaper=The Guardian |date=October 31, 2005 |accessdate=August 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829185630/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/oct/31/gender.religion |archive-date=2013-08-29 |url-status=live }}</ref> She graduated from [[Karachi University]] with degrees in [[Psychology]] and [[English language|English]].<ref name="google3">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wzTPht3-PEUC&q=Raheel+Raza&pg=PA175|title=Writing The Sacred: A Psalm-Inspired Path To Appreciating And Writing Sacred Poetry|author=Ray McGinnis|publisher=Wood Lake Publishing Inc.|year=2005|isbn=1-896836-73-9|accessdate=August 9, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105044054/http://books.google.com/books?id=wzTPht3-PEUC&pg=PA175&dq=Raheel+Raza&hl=en&ei=GWlfTI_oI4TGlQeYxYGYCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDsQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=Raheel%20Raza&f=false|archive-date=2014-01-05|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1989, she, her husband and her two sons moved to Toronto.<ref name="raheelraza1"/><ref name="google3"/> ==Activism and political views== === On Islam=== She has unequivocally condemned the [[September 11th terrorist attacks]] and all terrorism and violence in the name of religion, as well as that done in the name of Islam specifically.<ref name="google2"/><ref name="newsdurhamregion1"/> She claims "radicals" have their own interpretation of Islam, and that the Qur'an does not justify suicide bombings.<ref name="citizen2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2007-05-03/Regional_news/037.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706193658/http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2007-05-03/Regional_news/037.html |archivedate=6 July 2011 |title=Rabbi, Muslim and Catholic see other faiths' similarities |work= Orangeville Citizen |date=May 3, 2007 |accessdate=June 21, 2015}}</ref> She has said that hatred has been preached in places of worship in Canada and urges parents to be on the alert for extremism.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/toronto-bomb-plot/homegrown-extremism.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604192011/http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/toronto-bomb-plot/homegrown-extremism.html |archivedate=4 June 2009 |title=Toronto Bomb Plot Case; Homegrown extremism|author=CBC News Staff |publisher=CBC News |date=June 4, 2006 |accessdate=Jun 21, 2015}}</ref> Raza identifies herself as a [[Libertarianism|libertarian]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://reason.com/archives/2015/12/12/the-niqab-or-equality |title=Muslim Women Who Wear Veils Are Choosing to be Unequal |date=12 December 2015 |access-date=2016-04-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411135541/http://reason.com/archives/2015/12/12/the-niqab-or-equality |archive-date=2016-04-11 |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Female-led mixed gender prayers=== Raza has been a human rights activist, and has advocated gender equality, particularly for Muslim women.<ref name="newsdurhamregion1"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2007-03-29/Local_news/045.html |title=Three faiths in conversation |publisher=Orangeville Citizen |date=March 29, 2007 |accessdate=August 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706193716/http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2007-03-29/Local_news/045.html |archivedate=July 6, 2011 }}</ref> She became the first woman to lead mixed-gender Muslim prayers in Canada, in 2005.<ref name="guardian2005"/><ref name="news.google.com">{{cite news|first=Karla |last=Bruning |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=M4osAAAAIBAJ&pg=1977,734041&dq=raheel-raza&hl=en |title=Muslims Debate Traditions that Deny Women the Right to Lead Prayer in Mosques |work=[[Lakeland Ledger]]|date=December 2, 2006 |accessdate=June 15, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Tahir Aslam Gora">{{cite news |author=Tahir Aslam Gora |url=http://www.thespec.com/opinion/article/148621--canada-s-a-centre-for-islamic-reform |title=Opinions – Canada's a centre for Islamic reform |newspaper=[[The Hamilton Spectator]] |date=June 26, 2008 |accessdate=August 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830134747/http://www.thespec.com/opinion/article/148621--canada-s-a-centre-for-islamic-reform |archive-date=2012-08-30 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Khalid Hasan story_3-7-2005_pg7_36">{{cite news |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_3-7-2005_pg7_36 |title=Woman leads mixed Friday congregation in Canada |author=Khalid Hasan |newspaper=[[Daily Times (Pakistan)|Daily Times]] |date=July 3, 2005 |accessdate=August 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020154824/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_3-7-2005_pg7_36 |archive-date=2012-10-20 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/womens-lib-becomes-a-gender-jihad-for-muslims/2005/10/31/1130720481936.html |author=Giles Tremlett |author-link=Giles Tremlett |title=Women's lib becomes a gender jihad for Muslims |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=October 31, 2005 |accessdate=August 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526161429/http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/womens-lib-becomes-a-gender-jihad-for-muslims/2005/10/31/1130720481936.html |archive-date=2012-05-26 |url-status=live }}</ref> Raza termed it a "silent revolution" and said she hopes to become an [[imam]] someday. She also dreams of having a mosque "for women by women".<ref name="news.google.com"/> She received [[death threat]]s following the 2005 prayer event.<ref name="calgarysun1">{{cite web |last=Jacobs |first=Mindelle |url=http://test.calgarysun.com/comment/columnists/mindelle_jacobs/2010/06/20/14452701.html |title='Honour' abuse more prevalent than we think |publisher=[[Calgary Sun]] |date=June 19, 2010 |accessdate=August 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330194138/http://test.calgarysun.com/comment/columnists/mindelle_jacobs/2010/06/20/14452701.html |archivedate=March 30, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/first-woman-to-lead-friday-prayers-in-uk-1996228.html |title=First woman to lead Friday prayers in UK |website=[[Independent.co.uk]] |date=23 October 2011 |access-date=2017-09-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716003711/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/first-woman-to-lead-friday-prayers-in-uk-1996228.html |archive-date=2017-07-16 |url-status=live }}</ref> After female [[imam]] [[Amina Wadud]] received death threats for leading mixed-gender prayers in [[New York City]],<ref name="guardian2005"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=M4osAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sicEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1977,734041&dq=raheel-raza&hl=en|title = Lakeland Ledger - Google News Archive Search}}</ref> Raza was invited by Taj Hargey in 2008 to go to Oxford and become the first Muslim-born woman to lead a mixed-gender British congregation in Friday prayers.<ref name="nzherald1">{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/religion-and-beliefs/news/article.cfm?c_id=301&objectid=10650926&pnum=0|author=Jerome Taylor|title=Britain: First woman to lead Friday prayers|newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=June 10, 2010|accessdate=August 9, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023142302/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/religion-and-beliefs/news/article.cfm?c_id=301&objectid=10650926&pnum=0|archive-date=2012-10-23|url-status=live}}</ref> According to Muslim reformist [[Tahir Aslam Gora]], such prayers did not become a regular practice.<ref name="Tahir Aslam Gora"/> The [[Canadian Islamic Congress]] said Raza's concerns were a "non-issue for Canadian Muslims".<ref name="Khalid Hasan story_3-7-2005_pg7_36"/> ===Opposition to prayers in schools=== Raza opposed congregational Muslim [[Jumuah|Friday prayers]] in public schools, <!-- should we use the word "formal" instead and attribute it to Raza --> saying that in 1988 the [[Ontario Court of Appeal]] ruled that the use of the [[Lord's Prayer]] in public schools was not appropriate. She said such prayers are contrary to the notion of [[separation of church and state]]. She called the prayers "discrimination and harassment" for requiring girls to pray at the back of the room and for disclosing their "private personal female condition".<ref>Raheel Raza. [http://raheelraza.wordpress.com/2011/08/09/speech-at-tdsb-rally-against-prayer-in-school-aug-8-2011-by-raheel-raza/ SPEECH AT TDSB RALLY AGAINST PRAYER IN SCHOOL AUG 8, 2011 BY RAHEEL RAZA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826044417/http://raheelraza.wordpress.com/2011/08/09/speech-at-tdsb-rally-against-prayer-in-school-aug-8-2011-by-raheel-raza/ |date=2011-08-26 }}</ref> ===Banning veils=== Raza has argued for a public ban in Canada against the [[hijab]] and the [[burqa]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Jonathan Montpetit |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/774227--student-files-rights-case-over-quebec-niqab-ban |title=Student files rights case over Quebec niqab ban |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=March 3, 2010 |accessdate=August 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306135009/http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/774227--student-files-rights-case-over-quebec-niqab-ban |archive-date=2010-03-06 |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Opposition to Park51 Muslim community center=== {{See also|Park51}} In August 2010 Raza, along with [[Tarek Fatah]], both from the Muslim Canadian Congress, opposed the Muslim community center, Park51, located near the [[World Trade Center site]] (or ''Ground zero''). She describes the project as a ''[[Fitna (word)|Fitna]]'', meaning that it was done intentionally to provoke a reaction and make trouble.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nation.foxnews.com/ground-zero-mosque/2010/08/09/we-muslims-know-ground-zero-mosque-meant-be-deliberate-provocation |title=We Muslims Know Ground Zero Mosque Meant to Be a Deliberate Provocation |date=August 9, 2010 |publisher=Fox News Channel |accessdate=December 14, 2012 |archivedate=2015-04-04 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404013721/http://nation.foxnews.com/ground-zero-mosque/2010/08/09/we-muslims-know-ground-zero-mosque-meant-be-deliberate-provocation |url-status=dead }}</ref> In a [[Fox News]] interview with [[Bill O'Reilly (political commentator)|Bill O'Reilly]] she referred to Mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]] as having a "bleeding heart" for this cause that is actually dangerous for those who were affected by the 9/11 terror attacks, as the location of the Ground Zero Mosque seemed unnecessary and hurtful for the victims of the attacks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Muslim Raheel Raza Opposes Ground Zero Mosque - Pawns Bloomberg|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHg9gzo9o-U|publisher=Youtube|accessdate=12 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305214635/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHg9gzo9o-U|archive-date=2014-03-05|url-status=live}}</ref> === On immigration=== Raza has called the Canadian government to suspend all immigration from "terror-producing" countries, like Iran in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/david-b-harris/irans-fifth-column-target_b_1577752.html |title=Iran's "Fifth Column" Targets Canadian Schoolchildren |date=7 June 2012 |access-date=2012-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609235321/http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/david-b-harris/irans-fifth-column-target_b_1577752.html |archive-date=2012-06-09 |url-status=live }}</ref> ===Organizations=== Raza writes and records videos for the media websites [[Rebel News]] and [[True North Centre for Public Policy]]. She is a board member of and Director of Interfaith Affairs for the [[Muslim Canadian Congress]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_fatah/20040401.html |author=Natasha Fatah |title=One Law for All |publisher=CBC News |date=April 1, 2004 |accessdate=August 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024011610/http://www.cbc.ca/news/viewpoint/vp_fatah/20040401.html |archivedate=October 24, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/religious-school-funding-divides-community-groups-1.259517 |title= Religious school funding divides community groups |publisher=CTV Edmonton |date=October 9, 2007 |accessdate=August 9, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Raza |first=Raheel |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/sports/Mischief+Manhattan/3370303/story.html |title=Mischief in Manhattan |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |date=August 2, 2010 |accessdate=August 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818091927/http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Mischief+Manhattan/3370303/story.html |archivedate=August 18, 2010 }}</ref> She founded and is currently president of Forum for Learning, an interfaith discussion group. It is a [[non-profit organization]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/story.html?id=e3f561e0-f9f2-4a54-985d-330d99b765e5|title=Celebrating Differences|newspaper=The [[Montreal Gazette]]|date=October 2, 2007|accessdate=August 9, 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109015150/http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/story.html?id=e3f561e0-f9f2-4a54-985d-330d99b765e5|archivedate=November 9, 2012}}</ref> In 2006, the National Muslim Christian Liaison Committee honoured her for promoting Muslim-Christian dialogue in the wake of the Pope Benedict controversy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=21369 |author=Michael Swan |title=Canada's Catholic-Muslim dialogue continues forward in wake of pope's remarks |publisher=Catholic Online |date=September 22, 2006 |accessdate=August 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010032222/http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=21369 |archivedate=October 10, 2012 }}</ref> === Donald Trump === Raza stated in an interview with [[Bill Maher]] that [[Donald Trump]] was "an equal opportunity offender. And, secondly, this is supposed to be the First World, the civilized world, but he is really fudging that line about civility.".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.salon.com/2016/03/05/trumps_an_equal_opportunity_offender_raheel_raza_slams_the_donald_for_hate_mongering_against_muslims_on_bill_maher/|title=Trump's an "equal opportunity offender": Raheel Raza slams the Donald for hate-mongering against Muslims on Bill Maher|author=Brendan Gauthier|date=2016-03-06|work=Salon|access-date=2016-08-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828180230/http://www.salon.com/2016/03/05/trumps_an_equal_opportunity_offender_raheel_raza_slams_the_donald_for_hate_mongering_against_muslims_on_bill_maher/|archive-date=2016-08-28|url-status=live}}</ref> In a later article for ''[[USA Today]]'', Raza wrote that "as politically incorrect as his language may be," Trump had "succeeded in sparking an international conversation about radical Islam that we must have now", and called for Trump to "step up and put moderate Muslims on stage."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2016/08/17/trump-muslim-woman-activist-right-islam-islamophobia-ban-column/88863820/|title=Trump is right about radical Islam: Raheel Raza|author=Raheel Raza|date=2016-08-17|newspaper=USA Today|access-date=2017-09-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507093830/https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2016/08/17/trump-muslim-woman-activist-right-islam-islamophobia-ban-column/88863820/|archive-date=2017-05-07|url-status=live}}</ref> ==Writing== Raza is a freelance writer.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YTD_wBjrIpoC&q=Raheel+Raza&pg=PA34|title=Succeeding from the Margins of Canadian Society: A Strategic Resource for New Immigrants, Refugees and International Students|author=Francis Adu-Febiri, Everett Ofori|publisher=CCB Publishing|year=2009|isbn=978-1-926585-27-7|accessdate=August 9, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108000048/http://books.google.com/books?id=YTD_wBjrIpoC&pg=PA34&dq=Raheel+Raza&hl=en&ei=GWlfTI_oI4TGlQeYxYGYCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CEEQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=Raheel%20Raza&f=false|archive-date=2014-01-08|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2000, she received an award from the Canadian Ethnic Journalists and Writers Club.<ref name="google3"/> She has lectured at [[York University]] on the portrayal of Muslims in the media.<ref>Dorn Townsend.[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/18/realestate/18nati.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all "Building an Enclave Around a Mosque in Suburban Toronto"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711224806/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/18/realestate/18nati.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all |date=2018-07-11 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'', November 18, 2007, accessed August 10, 2010</ref> Raza is the author of ''Their Jihad, Not My Jihad: a Muslim Canadian woman speaks out'', a collection of her op-ed columns from the ''Toronto Star''.<ref name="google1"/><ref>{{cite web|author=Gloria Elayadathusseril |url=http://www.canadianimmigrant.ca/immigrantstories/career/article/2496 |title=Razor-sharp style; Immigrant, author, journalist, speaker and consultant Raheel Razar |publisher=Canadianimmigrant.ca |date= |accessdate=August 9, 2010}}</ref> She is also a poet and a playwright.<ref name="citizen2007"/> == Criticism == Raza has been criticized for her support and involvement in anti-Muslim groups and policies. After the [[2014 Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu ramming attack]], she stated in her blog that there needs to be a suspension of Muslim immigrants to Canada and that all mosques should be closed for three months and claimed that this action would not be an abuse of religious freedom.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/01/29/supporter-anti-muslim-policies-raheel-raza-speaks-minnesota-state-capitol|title=Supporter of anti-Muslim policies Raheel Raza speaks at Minnesota State Capitol|last=|first=|date=29 January 2019|website=splcenter.org|access-date=13 December 2019}}</ref> Her support and association with groups and projects described as anti-Muslim like the [[Clarion Project]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bridge.georgetown.edu/research/factsheet-clarion-project/|title=Factsheet: Clarion Project|last=|first=|date=3 April 2018|website=bridge.georgetown.edu|access-date=13 December 2019}}</ref> and [[ACT! for America]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bridge.georgetown.edu/research/factsheet-act-for-america-2/|title=Factsheet: Act for America|last=|first=|date=4 December 2019|website=bridge.georgetown.edu|access-date=13 December 2019}}</ref> which have funded and aided anti-Muslim legislations and policies within the USA<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/20/islamophobia-funding-cair-berkeley-report|title=Funding fear of Muslims: $206m went to promoting 'hatred' of American Muslims|last=Kazem|first=Halima|date=20 June 2016|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=14 December 2019}}</ref> has also been criticized. She has been criticized as being "far from the "reformist" and "progressive" individual she claims to be, Raza's extensive history of anti-Muslim statements and open ties to hate groups make her fundamentally undemocratic."<ref name=":0" /> ==Works== ===Books=== *''How Can You Possibly be an Anti-Terrorist Muslim?'', Raheel Raza, Possibly Publishing, 2011 {{ISBN|1-4609-2279-4}} *''Their Jihad... Not My Jihad: Revised 2nd Edition'', Raheel Raza, Possibly Publishing, 2012 {{ISBN|0981943748}} *''How Can You Possibly be a Muslim Feminist?'', Raheel Raza, Possibly Publishing, 2014 {{ISBN|0981943721}} *''The ABC's of Islamism: Everything you wanted to know about radical Islam, but were afraid to ask'', Raheel Raza, Library and Archives Canada, 2020 {{ISBN|978-1777198626}} ===Documentary film=== Raza participated, together with eight other women's rights activists, in the documentary film ''[[Honor Diaries]]''<ref>{{cite web|title=Honor Diaries|url=http://www.honordiaries.com}}</ref> which explores the issues of gender-based violence and inequality in Muslim-majority societies. Her personal story was featured alongside those of the other activists, all of whom are working to combat gender prejudice that is embedded in honor-based societies.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chicago Film Festival|url=http://www.chicagofilmfestival.com/films_and_schedule/movie.php?show=honor_diaries|accessdate=26 February 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303024830/http://www.chicagofilmfestival.com/films_and_schedule/movie.php?show=honor_diaries|archivedate=3 March 2014}}</ref> ===Select articles=== *[https://www.thestar.com/desilife/article/284634 "Flavours of a desi Christmas; For Canada's South Asian Christians, Christmas is a festive time full of unique traditions – especially when it comes to food"], Raheel Raza, the ''[[Toronto Star]]'', December 13, 2007 *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110201061020/http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/opinion/story.html?id=a74e3881-eff7-471c-8c7d-ffdede3ef6c2 "In the Arms of Extremists"], Raheel Raza, ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'', December 28, 2007 *[https://web.archive.org/web/20121021232723/http://www.thestar.com/article/347382 "Steeped in superstition; When folklore, traditions and imagination intersect, the resulting beliefs are something even educated people take seriously"], Raheel Riza, the ''[[Toronto Star]]'', March 19, 2008 *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100816123640/http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=16ad199c-a991-43e9-8608-be26d55e8f8f "'Islamophobia' used too often to stifle debate or criticism"], Raheel Riza, ''[[The Vancouver Sun]]'', June 17, 2008 *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100818091927/http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Mischief+Manhattan/3370303/story.html "Mischief in Manhattan; We Muslims know the Ground Zero mosque is meant to be a deliberate provocation"], Raheel Raza and [[Tarek Fatah]], ''Ottawa Citizen'', August 7, 2010 ==See also== *[[Criticism of Islamism]] *[[Islamic feminism]] *[[List of fatwas]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.raheelraza.com/ Official website] *[https://www.facebook.com/people/Raheel-Raza/100000244830777 Facebook page] {{portal bar|Poetry}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Raza, Raheel}} [[Category:1949 births]] [[Category:21st-century Canadian poets]] [[Category:21st-century Canadian women writers]] [[Category:Canadian human rights activists]] [[Category:Women human rights activists]] [[Category:Canadian journalists]] [[Category:Canadian libertarians]] [[Category:Canadian Muslims]] [[Category:Pakistani emigrants to Canada]] [[Category:Naturalized citizens of Canada]] [[Category:Canadian women poets]] [[Category:Canadian political writers]] [[Category:Canadian women's rights activists]] [[Category:Canadian writers of Asian descent]] [[Category:Critics of Islamism]] [[Category:Canadian feminists]] [[Category:Proponents of Islamic feminism]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Muslim poets]] [[Category:Muslim reformers]] [[Category:University of Karachi alumni]] [[Category:Writers from Toronto]] [[Category:Pakistani libertarians]] [[Category:Pakistani Muslim activists]] [[Category:Canadian women non-fiction writers]]'