Farid Esack
Farid Esack | |
---|---|
Born | |
Citizenship | South Africa |
Alma mater | University of Johannesburg |
Occupation(s) | Scholar, writer, political activist |
Farid Esack (born 1955 in
Early life
Esack was born into a poor
Esack spent eight years as a student in at
Middle Ages
Returning to South Africa in 1982, Esack became involved with activities of the
In 1990 Esack left South Africa to continue his theological studies. He holds a PhD from the University of Birmingham, England, and pursued postdoctoral studies in Biblical hermeneutics at the Sankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology, Frankfurt, Germany.[3]
Esack has also been involved with the organisation Positive Muslims, which is dedicated to helping HIV-positive Muslims in Africa. Positive Muslims programs include prevention, lobbying, and research activities, but the main focus of the organisation's work is counseling and support for people living with HIV/AIDS.[4]
In May 2005 Farid Esack delivered the second Mandela Lecture sponsored by the Netherlands Institute for Southern Africa, Amsterdam.
In 2007-2008 Esack was the
Esack served as a Commissioner for Gender Equality in South African and has taught at the Universities of Western Cape, and Hamburg, the College of William & Mary and Union Theological Seminary (NY) and at Xavier University in Cincinnati. He is currently a professor of
He is head of the South-African branch of BDS. He was responsible for the boycott of Ben Gurion University by the University of Johannesburg.[5]
In 2013, Esack said that BDS distanced themselves from the singing of "shoot the Jew" in song during a protest at Wits University's Great Hall. "We unequivocally distance ourselves from the singing of this song and its sentiments. Also, to tarnish all Jews with the Zionist brush is racism regardless of who does it. Racism is racism and racism is abominable." Esack also bemoaned the advantage the incident had given the organisation's detractors. "It is unfortunate but not unexpected that supporters of Israel will focus on the singing of this song," he said. "The purpose and context of the protest were and remain the larger struggle against Israeli apartheid, Israel's illegal occupation and its violation of Palestinian rights."[6]
In 2015 in the wake of 132 deaths caused by terror attacks in France, Esack lashed out at Western powers that had waged war on Muslim countries and that supported the invasion of Muslim countries. "I am not praying for Paris; I am not condemning anyone. Why the hell should I? I had nothing to do with it," "I am sickened by the perpetual expectations to condemn. I walk away from your shitty racist and Islamophobic expectations that whenever your chickens come home to roost then I must feign horror". "Stop supporting and funding terror outfits, get out of other people's lands and continents, stop outlawing peaceful resistance such as Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement, to occupations, abandon your cultural imperialism, destroy your arms industry that provides the weapons that kill hundreds of thousands of others every year". "The logic is quite very muy simple: When you eat, it's stupid to expect that no shit will ever come out from your body. Yes, I feel sorry for the victims on whom the shit falls. But, bloody hell, own it; it's yours!"[7]
In 2018, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa granted Esack the Order of Luthuli (Silver) for "his brilliant contribution to academic research and to the fight against race, gender, class and religious oppression. His body of work continues to enlighten generations of fledgling and established academics".[8]
Books by Farid Esack
- The Struggle. (1988) ISBN 0-620-12519-5
- But Musa went to Fir'aun! A Compilation of Questions and Answers about the Role of Muslims in the South African Struggle for Liberation. (South Africa, 1989) ISBN 0-620-14105-0
- Qur'an, Liberation and Pluralism: An Islamic Perspective of Interreligious Solidarity Against Oppression. (Oxford, 1997) ISBN 1-85168-121-3
- Islam and Politics (London, 1998) OCLC 67856723
- On Being a Muslim: Finding a Religious Path in the World Today. (Oxford, 1999) ISBN 1-85168-146-9
- The Qur'an: A Short Introduction. (Oxford, 2002) ISBN 1-85168-231-7
- The Qur'an: A User's Guide. (Oxford, 2005) ISBN 1-85168-354-2
References
- ^ a b Dagut, Simon (2000). "Profile of Farid Esack". Focus - Issue 17. Helen Suzman Foundation. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
- ^ "Portraits. Goolam Vahed" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
- ^ a b c "Prof Farid Esack". University of Johannesburg. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ "Resources on faith, ethics and public life". Berkley Center, Georgetown University. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ "University of Johannesburg Upholds Academic Boycott of Israel | US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel". www.usacbi.org. 9 July 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
- ^ Pillay, Verashni (2 September 2013). "'Shoot the Jew' song slammed". politicsweb. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ Areff, Ahmed (17 November 2015). "I'm not praying for Paris – SA Muslim academic". News24. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
- ^ Kekana, Kwara (23 April 2018). "BDS leader to be awarded national order by SA President – BDS". politicsweb. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
Further reading
- Singhai, Arvind, and W. Stephen Howard. The Children of Africa Confront AIDS: From Vulnerability to Possibility. (Athens, Ohio, 2003) ISBN 0-89680-232-9