Media inquiry: Why doesn’t the Toronto Star correct and apologize for its front page #FakeNews article?
This new inquiry was sent to Publisher John Boynton, Director, Community Relations and Communications, Bob Hepburn, public editor Kathy English, and the reporter Jennifer Yang.
It includes Islamic sources praised by the most prominent Imams in Canada and around the Muslim world. One would think that The Star would want to protect its reputation and share this information.
According to Kathy English:
“I think it’s safe to say, the Toronto Star is not in the business of fake news. While this news organization’s work does sometimes fall short of its own journalistic standards, to suggest that the Star would deliberately publish false information is wrong. We don’t make stuff up.”
On February 17, 2017 Kathy English tweeted:3
“I am already tired of the new “fake news” charges from Toronto Star critics.”
On December 1, 2017 Kathy English wrote:4
“trustworthy journalism from journalists and news organizations that hold themselves to high professional standards and do the real work of reporting to verify facts matters more than ever… Just because someone says it’s true, does not make it so.”
If this is their stance, how do they justify not responding to information that contradicts their reporting? Why do they continue to decline to respond to my questions?
Here is the latest request made to The Star.
On October 22, 2017, The Toronto Star dedicated four pages, including its front page, in an attempt to exonerate Ayman Elkasrawy, an Imam at “Masjid Toronto” mosque, from anti-Jewish and anti-infidel prayers during Ramadan 2016.
I wrote about that report in my article “Was Toronto Star’s front page exposé defamatory #FAKENEWS?
The Star has chosen to dispute the translation of a Muslim prayer by Lt Col (Ret.) Jonathan Halevi, internationally respected investigative journalist and researcher who testified before the Senate on radical Islam in Canada.
From your article Sun., Oct. 22, 2017:
“The YouTube clip was particularly troubling for Arabic sociolinguist and dialectologist Atiqa Hachimi, an associate professor at the University of Toronto.
This is because the clip was digitally manipulated: the first two seconds were cut and pasted from a different prayer Elkasrawy had made two minutes earlier. A slanted translation then transformed this Quranic verse from “Thou art our Protector. Help us against those who stand against faith” to “Give us victory over the disbelieving people.”
“It changed their meaning in such a way as to promote the dangerous myths that violent extremism and hate are inherent to Islam,” Hachimi said.
| Original text in Arabic | Jonathan Halevi’s translation | Toronto Star’s translation |
| انصرنا على القوم الكافرين | Give us victory over the disbelieving people | Help us against those who stand against faith |
From my investigation on this matter I learned that on July 25, 2017, Jonathan Halevi provided The Star with a few examples of the Islamic sources he used to translate the Ayman Elkasrawy’s supplications. Halevi added:
“Other parts of the supplications recited at Masjid Toronto can be found translated into Arabic on Islamic sites and in free books at the Islamic booth at Toronto’s Dundas Square (see below).”
In yet another detailed email on the same day Halevi wrote amongst other things:
“The original videos were embedded in CIJnews with no editing, manipulation etc. They were available till Masjid Toronto YouTube Channel was deleted. CIJnews published Elkasrawy’s statement in its entirety in which he explained the context of his supplications. CIJnews translation was mainly based on Islamic sources (see my previous email and below).”
“CIJnews translation: “[O Allah] give us victory over the disbelieving people.” (Translation Saheeh International. Copies of Saheeh International are being distributed for free across Canada by Dawah groups including at Dundas Square. They were also handed out to visitors at Jam’e Abu Bakr Siddique Masjid, a Sunni mosque located at 2665 Lawrence Ave. East in Toronto, during an open house celebrating the first Ontario Islamic Heritage Month on October 29, 2016.)”
The Star DID NOT publish Halevi’s statements clarifying that his translation was based on Islamic sources.
The Star also DID NOT mention that Halevi relied on an official translation of the Quran (Saheeh International) in his translation of the Quranic verse: “Give us victory over the disbelieving people.”
Halevi’s translation of this verse is supported by a many credible Islamic sources in the Muslim world as well as in Canada.
In his translation of the Quran “The Clear Quran”, Dr. Mustafa Khattab, Imam of Anatolia Islamic Centre in Mississauga, Ont., and member of the Canadian Council of Imams, translated the Quranic verse in question exactly as Jonathan Halevi: “Give us victory over the disbelieving people.” Source: The Clear Quran-A Thematic English Translation, Dr. Mustafa Khattab, Siraj Publications, Canada, 2016, pp. 76, 84, 102.
“The Clear Quran” page on Amazon states the following:
“About the translation… To achieve accuracy, the translator has made use of the greatest and most celebrated works of old and modern tafsir (Quran commentaries), and shared the work with several Imams in North America for feedback and insight…
“This translation has been officially approved by Al-Azhar (the most prestigious school of Islamic knowledge in the world) and endorsed by ISNA and the Canadian Council of Imams…
About the translator… With two decades of experience in Islamic translation, Dr. Mustafa Khattab is an authority on interpreting the Quran... Dr. Khattab received his Ph.D., M.A., and B.A. in Islamic Studies in English with Honors from Al-Azhar University’s Faculty of Languages & Translation… He is a member of the Canadian Council of Imams…”
In his endorsement letter on July 7, 2016 (more than a year BEFORE Toronto Star’s article), Dr. M. lqbal Nadvi Chair of the Canadian Council of Imams and the President of ICNA Canada, wrote the following:
“Canadian Council of Imams’ Endorsement of The Clear Quran by Dr. Mustafa Khattab… Dr. Khattab’s ground-breaking work, which is noted for clarity, eloquence, and flow, makes the Quran more accessible than ever… I’m confident that this translation will be well received and recognized as a scholarly and timely work.”
Dr. Jamal Badawi, Canadian leading Muslim scholar and Professor Emeritus, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, NS, also endorsed The Clear Quran. Here are excerpts from Badawi’s endorsement letter:
“A Long Overdue English Translation of the Qur’an. I have been involved as a Muslim speaker, teacher, and writer on Islam for more than 50 years. Like many others, I always hoped for a translation of the meaning of the Qur’an that combines clarity, accuracy, understanding of the historical background of many Qur’anic verses… The Clear Quran translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab, a qualified graduate of the famous Al-Azhar University came the closest to my long-standing dream.”
The Clear Quran was also endorsed by Canadian imams Navaid Aziz and Musleh Khanand American imam and scholar Omar Suleiman who wrote: “The Clear Quran—which is noted for clarity, accuracy, eloquence, and flow—is indeed a scholarly and timely work that reflects the beauty and relevance of Islam. I highly recommend Dr. Mustafa Khattab’s translation.”
Canadian imams liked Omar Suleiman’s endorsement of The clear Quran including: Taha Ghayyur, Ibrahim Hindy, Refaat Mohamed, Shakir Pandor, Abdul Raouf Kabbar, Sherif Ayoup, Muhammad Abuelezz, Aarij Anwer and Muhammad Robert Heft.
Copies of The Clear Quran have been distributed for free by various Canadian Dawah groups, including the Muslim Students Association at York University.
Other Islamic sources that support Jonathan Halevi’s translation of the Quranic verse: “Give us victory over the disbelieving people”:
- Shaikh Abu Umar Abdul Azeez (Abdul Azeez al-Athari), Scholar, Author, Translator and Imam at Abu Huraira Center, Toronto: انصرنا على القوم الكافرين “Give us victory over the disbelieving people”. Source: The Accepted Dua [Supplication], complied and translated by Abu Umar; Abdulazeez, http://abenefitaday.com/ in conjunction with Abu Hurairah Centre, Third Edition, 2013, Toronto, Canada, pp. 25, 82, 85. The book has been distributed for free by Canadian Dawah groups, including Walk-In Islamic infoCenter.
- Hosam Helal: “Grant us victory over those who made us their enemies” انصرنا على من عادانا.[1] Imam Hosam Helal currently serves as the Imam and Religious Affairs Director at Islamic Society of St. Catharines. He also serves as the Associate Chaplain at Brock University, an instructor at ISNA Canada, and a director of Mishkah Social Services. He previously served as the Imam at the Muslim Association of Hamilton and Program Coordinator at ISNA Canada. He has served as Imam, khateeb, teacher, and instructor for the last 10 years at several universities throughout Canada and the United States.[2]
- 24 Hours with the Prophet, reviewed by Sheikh Abu-Khalid Almadani, Islamic Communication Trust, Karachi, Pakistan, p. 122 – انصرنا على القوم الكافرين“Give us victory over the disbelieving people”. The book has been distributed for free by Canadian Dawah groups. The first page of the book states the following: “Available in Canada for $2.00 {postage extra}. DAWAH CENTRE: Tel: #(416) 536-84433, Fax: # (416) 536-0417. e-mail: [email protected].”
- Fortress of the Muslim, invocations from the Quran & Sunnah (Arabic, English & transliteration), reviewed by Sheikh Imam Ahmed Shahab, www.collectfreequran.com, pp. 43-45 – انصرنا على القوم الكافرين“Give us victory over the disbelieving people”. The book has been distributed for free by Canadian Dawah groups, including Walk-In Islamic infoCenter and the Muslim Students Association at York University.
- Muslim Prayer Handbook, compiled by Muhammad Obaidullah, Islamic Communication Trust, Karachi, Pakistan, p. 4 – انصرنا على القوم الكافرين“Give us victory over the disbelieving people”. The book has been distributed for free by Canadian Dawah groups. The first page of the book states the following: “Available in Canada for $2.00 {postage extra}. DAWAH CENTRE: Tel: #(416) 536-84433, Fax: # (416) 536-0417. e-mail: [email protected].”.”
- The Quran: English Meanings and Notes, Saheeh International, Al-Muntadsa Al-Islami Trust, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 2012, pp. 37, 44, 61 – انصرنا على القوم الكافرين“Give us victory over the disbelieving people”. The book has been distributed for free by Canadian Dawah groups, including Walk-In Islamic infoCenter, Street Dawah Toronto, Street Dawah near St. Lawrence Market in downtown Toronto, the Muslim Students Association at York University and Canadian Muslim Students Associations.
- Syllabus for the Month of April for MGAs and Workers issued by ICNA Canada (Islamic Circle of North America-Canada) headed by Dr. Iqbal al-Nasvi, the Charman of the Canadian Council of Imams – انصرنا على القوم الكافرين“Give us victory over the disbelieving people”.
- Race To Jannah-5, Group B: Grade 1 to 3, Quran & Tafsir: Surah Al-Baqarah (285-286), http://www.bdhalaqa.ca/ ((Islamic organization in Edmonton, Alberta that teaches the Quran), p. 3, 4 – انصرنا على القوم الكافرين“Give us victory over the disbelieving people”.
- The Markaz Oasis, Markaz-Ul-Islam (Islamic Centre in Edmonton, Alberta), Issue: Spring 2012, p. 8 – انصرنا على القوم الكافرين“Give us victory over the disbelieving people”.
- Dua Qunoot [Supplication], Complete Qunoot in Arabic, English, translation and transliteration, Mashary Rashod, p. 6 – انصرنا على القوم الكافرين“Give us victory over the disbelieving people”.
- A selection of Supplications From Al-Qur’an and Authentic Hadith, ISLAMIC KNOWLEDGE TEAM, p. 3 انصرنا على القوم الكافرين“Give us victory over those who deny the truth”.
- Daily Dua [supplication] – Authentic Adhkar prescribed by the Messenger of Allah, Ummah Welfare Trust, 2016, pp. 45-46 – انصرنا على القوم الكافرين“Give us victory over the disbelieving people”.
- Dua [supplication] of the Prophet, http://www.islamsbudskap.com, p. 20-21 – انصرنا على من عادانا “Give us victory over our enemies”.
- Dua [supplication]-The Weapon of the Believer, Abu Ammaar Yasir Qadhi, Al-Hidaayah Publishing and Distribution (2001), p. 52 – انصرنا على القوم الكافرين “Make us victorious over the disbelieving people.”
- What to Do When a Muslim Dies, The Islamic Bulletin, pp. 36-37 – انصرنا على القوم الكافرين“Give us victory over the disbelieving people”.
- FORTY RABBANA, Collection of Short Qur’anic Du`a, FISABILILLAH PUBLICATIONS, pp.6-7, 11-12. انصرنا على القوم الكافرين“Give us victory over the disbelieving people”. See also:
Questions:
Why didn’t Toronto Star publish Jonathan Halevi’s statements that his translation was based on Islamic sources?
Jonathan Halevi provided the Star with evidence from Saheeh International supporting his translation. Why didn’t Toronto Star publish it?
Why doesn’t the Toronto Star correct its article after receiving modern Islamic sources that clearly prove Halevi’s translation to be main-stream? By not retracting, it appears that The Star is participating in promoting Fake News.
See HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.
Does the Toronto Star suggest that translation offered/ endorsed by the Islamic sources (including Al-Azhar, Canadian Council of Imams, ICNA and ISNA) that supports Jonathan Halevi’s translation are also “propaganda”, “mistranslated”, “decontextualized”, “disingenuous” and/ or “slanted translation”?
Why does the Toronto Star systematically refrain from responding to my media inquiries and refuse to answer simple questions? Does this behaviour reflect the Star’s journalistic standards?
From the Ethics of the Fathers: “Rabbi Tarfon used to say, it is not incumbent upon you to complete the task, but you are not exempt from undertaking it.”
