Mohamed Ali Harrath
Encyclopedia
Mohamed Ali Harrath is a Tunisian activist and businessman and the founder and CEO of the Islam Channel
.
. He wrote his student dissertation on Karl Marx
. He graduated from the University of London
following study in political science and theology. He was imprisoned for political activism against the regime of Zine Abidine Ben-Ali in Tunisia
. After his release in the mid-1980s, he travelled to Tehran
, inspired by the thought of the Iranian Revolution
, though he was disappointed by the reality of life there. He helped found the Tunisian Islamic Front
(FIT) in 1986: though he has characterised the organization as a non-violent political party in opposition to Ben Ali's dictatorship, the Tunisian regime, under Ben Ali, characterized it as advocating "an Islamic state by means of armed revolutionary violence”.
He was forced into exile from Tunisia, and at the Tunisian Government's request was placed on an Interpol Red Notice in 1992. He entered England
in October 1995, and claimed political asylum. In October 2000 he was granted refugee status and indefinite leave to stay in the UK.
He founded the Islam Channel
in 2004 and is the current CEO. He also organised the first Global Peace and Unity
event in 2005, attracting over 50,000 members of the public annually. In 2010, He ravelled to Kigali
, Rwanda
, where he met and awarded President Paul Kagame
for his services to humanity.
In February 2011 he returned to Tunisia
after 21 years of exile, where he was welcomed by many Tunisians at Tunis-Carthage International Airport
.
Islam Channel
Islam Channel is a UK-based, free-to-air, English language, Islamic-focused satellite television channel funded by advertising and donations. It was reported in 2008 that UK government research found that 97.3% of Muslims watched the channel...
.
Biography
Mohamed Ali Harrath was born in Sidi Bouzid Governorate, TunisiaTunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. He wrote his student dissertation on Karl Marx
Karl Marx
Karl Heinrich Marx was a German philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, and revolutionary socialist. His ideas played a significant role in the development of social science and the socialist political movement...
. He graduated from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
following study in political science and theology. He was imprisoned for political activism against the regime of Zine Abidine Ben-Ali in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. After his release in the mid-1980s, he travelled to Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, inspired by the thought of the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
, though he was disappointed by the reality of life there. He helped found the Tunisian Islamic Front
Tunisian Islamic Front
According to American counter-terrorism analysts the Tunisian Islamic Front is a group with ties to terrorism.-History:According to the Journal of the Middle Eastern Review of International Affairs...
(FIT) in 1986: though he has characterised the organization as a non-violent political party in opposition to Ben Ali's dictatorship, the Tunisian regime, under Ben Ali, characterized it as advocating "an Islamic state by means of armed revolutionary violence”.
He was forced into exile from Tunisia, and at the Tunisian Government's request was placed on an Interpol Red Notice in 1992. He entered England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in October 1995, and claimed political asylum. In October 2000 he was granted refugee status and indefinite leave to stay in the UK.
He founded the Islam Channel
Islam Channel
Islam Channel is a UK-based, free-to-air, English language, Islamic-focused satellite television channel funded by advertising and donations. It was reported in 2008 that UK government research found that 97.3% of Muslims watched the channel...
in 2004 and is the current CEO. He also organised the first Global Peace and Unity
Global Peace and Unity
The Global Peace and Unity event is an annual two-day conference held at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre in Royal Victoria Dock, London and organized by the Islam Channel. It is the largest Muslim, interfaith and multicultural event of its kind in Europe, having attracted over 55,000 visitors from...
event in 2005, attracting over 50,000 members of the public annually. In 2010, He ravelled to Kigali
Kigali
Kigali, population 965,398 , is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is situated near the geographic centre of the nation, and has been the economic, cultural, and transport hub of Rwanda since it became capital at independence in 1962. The main residence and offices of the President of...
, Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, where he met and awarded President Paul Kagame
Paul Kagame
Paul Kagame is the sixth and current President of the Republic of Rwanda. He rose to prominence as the leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front , whose victory over the incumbent government in July 1994 effectively ended the Rwandan genocide...
for his services to humanity.
In February 2011 he returned to Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
after 21 years of exile, where he was welcomed by many Tunisians at Tunis-Carthage International Airport
Tunis-Carthage International Airport
Tunis–Carthage Airport is the international airport serving Tunis in Tunisia.The airport is named for the historic city of Carthage, located just north of the airport. It is the base of operations for four airlines: Tunisair, Nouvelair Tunisia, Tunisair Express and Tunisavia...
.
External links
- Interview with Stephen Sackur on the BBC programme HARDtalkHARDtalkHardtalk is a flagship BBC television programme, consisting of in-depth half-hour one-on-one interviews.It is broadcast four days a week on BBC World News and the BBC News channel. Launched in 1997, much of its worldwide fame is due to its global reach via BBC World...
, first broadcast 25 March 2010