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'''Irfan Yusuf''' ({{Lang-ur|{{Nastaliq|عرفان یوسف}}}}) (born in 1969) is an Australian<ref name=bio>{{cite web|access-date=2 June 2009|url=http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2071037.htm|title=Irfan Yusuf|publisher=ABC|date=2 June 2009}}</ref> [[social commentator]]<ref name=bio/> and author of the [[memoir]] ''Once Were Radicals: My years as a teenage Islamo-fascist''.<ref name=oncewerebook>Irfan Yusuf (2009),[http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=94&book=9781741758269 ''Once were radicals – My years as a teenage Islamo-fascist''], Allen and Unwin, May 2009</ref>
[[File:Once Were Radicals.png|thumb|250px|right|Irfan Yusuf's book: ''Once were radicals - My years as a teenage [[Islamofascism|Islamo-fascist]]'']]

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'''Irfan Yusuf''' (born 1969 in [[Karachi]], [[Pakistan]]) is an [[Australia]]n<ref name=bio>{{cite web|accessdate=2 June 2009|url=http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2071037.htm|title=Irfan Yusuf|publisher=ABC|date=2 June 2009}}</ref> [[social commentator]]<ref name=bio/> and [[author]] of the [[memoir]] ''Once Were Radicals: My years as a teenage Islamo-fascist''.<ref name=oncewerebook>Irfan Yusuf (2009),[http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=94&book=9781741758269 ''Once were radicals - My years as a teenage Islamo-fascist''], Allen and Unwin, May 2009</ref>


==Education and work==
==Education and work==
Yusuf was raised in Sydney.<ref name=irfan021107>Irfan Yusuf, newmatilda.com, 2 November 2007, [http://newmatilda.com/2007/11/02/brendan-nelson-—-bejewelled-interloper-or-future-pm%3F Brendan Nelson: Bejewelled Interloper or Future PM?]</ref> His father was from [[Pakistan]] and his mother was born in [[India]].<ref name=review>{{cite web|accessdate=2 June 2009|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25399005-5003900,00.html|title=Lessons of a wannabe teen hero|first=Mahir|last=Ali|publisher=The Australian|date=2 May 2009}}</ref> He lived in Pakistan and the U.S. for a time, and then returned to Australia and attended [[St Andrew’s Cathedral School]] in [[Sydney]].<ref name="The Australian">Jill Rowbotham, Religious affairs writer Portrait of a radical as a young man 13 December 2007 The Australian</ref>
Yusuf was born in [[Karachi]], Pakistan and was raised in Sydney.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} His father was from [[Pakistan]] and his mother was born in [[India]].<ref name=review>{{cite web|access-date=2 June 2009|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/news/irfan-yusuf-once-were-radicals-my-years-as-a-teenage-islamo-fa/news-story/061fa135520d38dea434303f66ad9fd8|title=Lessons of a wannabe teen hero|first=Mahir|last=Ali|publisher=The Australian|date=2 May 2009}}</ref> He lived in Pakistan and the U.S. for a time, and then returned to Australia and attended [[St Andrew's Cathedral School]] in Sydney.<ref name="The Australian">Jill Rowbotham, Religious affairs writer Portrait of a radical as a young man 13 December 2007 The Australian</ref>


He graduated from [[Macquarie University]] in law and economics.<ref>Irfan Yusuf, 20 November 2008, [http://www.nceis.unimelb.edu.au/event/conference-08-irfan-yusuf-imams-expert-witnesses Conference '08: Irfan Yusuf on Imams as Expert Witnesses], University of Melbourne</ref> He also has a Diploma of Legal Practice from the [[University of Technology, Sydney]].<ref>Australian Homeland Security Research Centre, [http://www.homelandsecurity.org.au/about_us.html#irfan About Us]</ref> He was admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1994.
He graduated from [[Macquarie University]] in law and economics.<ref>{{cite speech|author=Yusuf, Irfan|date=20 November 2008|url=http://www.nceis.unimelb.edu.au/event/conference-08-irfan-yusuf-imams-expert-witnesses|event=Conference '08|title=Irfan Yusuf on Imams as Expert Witnesses|publisher=University of Melbourne|location=Melbourne, Victoria|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218064245/http://www.nceis.unimelb.edu.au/event/conference-08-irfan-yusuf-imams-expert-witnesses|archive-date=18 February 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He also has a Diploma of Legal Practice from the [[University of Technology, Sydney]].<ref>Australian Homeland Security Research Centre, [http://www.homelandsecurity.org.au/about_us.html#irfan About Us] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408050849/http://www.homelandsecurity.org.au/about_us.html#irfan |date=8 April 2009 }}</ref> He was admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1994.


==Political activities==
==Political activities==
Yusuf was involved in campus politics prior to joining the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]] in 1993 where he became prominent<ref>[http://www.swf.org.au/component/option,com_events/task,view_detail/agid,238/year,2009/month,05/day,23/Itemid,203/]</ref> in its conservative faction.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/ah-the-tears-of-crocodiles/2005/09/02/1125302739180.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Ah, the tears of crocodiles | date=3 September 2005}}</ref> In 2005 Yusuf explained "from 1994 to 2002, I was a factional warrior for the non-Group (right-wing) faction of the NSW Liberals."<ref>[http://planetirf.blogspot.com/2005/09/mrs-bishop-defames-me-under.html]</ref> He was elected to the State Council of the NSW division of the Party from 1996-2000.<ref>http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/nsw/content/2006/s1694459.htm</ref> He writes he was ordered by factional bosses such as Tony Abbott to oppose the preselection of [[Brendan Nelson]] because he was not considered sufficiently conservative.<ref name=irfan021107/> In 1999, he ran with other members of the Liberal Party for the [[City of Bankstown|Bankstown council]] as part of a group called "New Generation", he was unsuccessful.<ref name=council>{{cite web|accessdate=2 June 2009|url=http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/yoursay/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/multiculturalism_the_great_debate_begins/|title=Multiculturalism - the great debate begins|first=Irfan|last=Yusuf|publisher=Daily Telegraph online|date=24 September 2006}}</ref> He was also endorsed as [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal]] candidate for the safe Labor seat of [[Division of Reid|Reid]] in the [[Australian federal election, 2001|2001 Australian Federal Election]].<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/natint/stories/s1446239.htm The National Interest: 28 August 2005 - The Aussie Mossie<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He achieved a two-party preferred swing of over 5%.<ref name=result>{{cite web|accessdate=2 June 2009|url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/2001/2001repsnsw.txt|title=COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA LEGISLATIVE ELECTION OF 10&nbsp;NOVEMBER 2001|first=Adam|last=Carr|publisher=Psephos|date=}}</ref>
Yusuf was involved in campus politics prior to joining the [[Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)|Liberal Party]] in 1993 where he became prominent<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.swf.org.au/component/option,com_events/task,view_detail/agid,238/year,2009/month,05/day,23/Itemid,203/|title = Sydney Writers' Festival - 404 Not Found}}</ref> in its conservative faction.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/ah-the-tears-of-crocodiles/2005/09/02/1125302739180.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Ah, the tears of crocodiles | date=3 September 2005}}</ref> In 2005 Yusuf explained "from 1994 to 2002, I was a factional warrior for the non-Group (right-wing) faction of the NSW Liberals."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://planetirf.blogspot.com/2005/09/mrs-bishop-defames-me-under.html|title = Planet Irf: COMMENT: MRS Bishop defames me under Parliamentary Privilege|date = 7 September 2005}}</ref> He was elected to the State Council of the NSW division of the Party from 1996–2000.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/nsw/content/2006/s1694459.htm| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121109005104/http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/nsw/content/2006/s1694459.htm| archive-date = 2012-11-09| title = Stateline NSW| website = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref> In 1999, he ran with other members of the Liberal Party for the [[City of Bankstown|Bankstown council]] as part of a group called "New Generation", he was unsuccessful.<ref name=council>{{cite web|access-date=2 June 2009|url=http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/yoursay/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/multiculturalism_the_great_debate_begins/|title=Multiculturalism – the great debate begins|first=Irfan|last=Yusuf|publisher=Daily Telegraph online|date=24 September 2006}}</ref> He was also endorsed as [[Liberal Party of Australia]] candidate for the safe Labor seat of [[Division of Reid|Reid]] in the [[2001 Australian federal election|2001 Australian Federal Election]].<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/natint/stories/s1446239.htm The National Interest: 28 August 2005 – The Aussie Mossie<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> He achieved a two-party preferred swing of over 5%.<ref name=result>{{cite web|access-date=2 June 2009|url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/2001/2001repsnsw.txt|title=COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA LEGISLATIVE ELECTION OF 10&nbsp;NOVEMBER 2001|first=Adam|last=Carr|publisher=Psephos|date=}}</ref>


===Leaving the Liberal Party===
===Leaving the Liberal Party===
He let his [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]] membership lapse in 2002<ref>[http://newmatilda.com/2009/03/19/hes-just-not-scary]</ref> and in particular became critical of what he said was a takeover of the conservative faction by NSW Member of the Legislative Council [[David Clarke (Australian politician)|David Clarke]]. In July 2006, in an episode of ABC's ''Four Corners'',<ref>ABC, 17 July 2006, [http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2006/s1686673.htm The Right Stuff]</ref> he joined other former Liberals in criticising the direction of the Party. He accused Clarke of being willing to exploit [[anti-semitism]] and [[homophobia]] to recruit people Muslims from Sydney to his party and faction, and that he had made derogatory remarks to him about Jews and homosexuals.<ref name=abc5905>ABC Lateline, 5/9/05, [http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2005/s1453762.htm Clarke denies denigrating Jews, homosexuals]</ref> Clarke vehemently denied Yusuf's claims, threatening legal action which never eventuated.<ref name=abc5905/>
He let his [[Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)|Liberal Party]] membership lapse in 2002 and in particular became critical of what he said was a takeover of the conservative faction by NSW Member of the Legislative Council [[David Clarke (Australian politician)|David Clarke]].{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} In July 2006, in an episode of ABC's ''Four Corners'',<ref>ABC, 17 July 2006, [http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2006/s1686673.htm The Right Stuff]</ref> he joined other former Liberals in criticising the direction of the Party. He accused Clarke of being willing to exploit [[antisemitism]] and [[homophobia]] to recruit Muslims from Sydney to his party and faction, and that he had made derogatory remarks to him about Jews and homosexuals.<ref name=abc5905>ABC Lateline, 5/9/05, [http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2005/s1453762.htm Clarke denies denigrating Jews, homosexuals]</ref> Clarke vehemently denied Yusuf's claims, threatening legal action which never eventuated.<ref name=abc5905/>


After a scandal involving a racist leaflet emerged during the 2007 election, Yusuf remarked on ABC's Lateline that a member expelled from the Liberal Party was perhaps affected by being "surrounded by bigots."<ref>ABC Lateline, 22 November 2007, [http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2007/s2098666.htm Liberal candidate goes to ground after bogus flyer controversy]</ref> He also claimed that one of [[John Howard|John Howard's]] campaign workers had said to him he resembled "that Aborigine who my great grandfather shot dead for trespassing onto his property."<ref name=irfan021107/>
After a scandal involving a racist leaflet emerged during the 2007 election, Yusuf remarked on [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]]'s [[Lateline]] that a member expelled from the Liberal Party was perhaps affected by being "surrounded by bigots."<ref>ABC Lateline, 22 November 2007, [http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2007/s2098666.htm Liberal candidate goes to ground after bogus flyer controversy]</ref>


==Commentator and author==
==Commentator and author==
Yusuf's work has been published in 6 major newspapers<ref>[http://newmatilda.com/contributor/2952]</ref> and he has appeared on a number of television and radio programmes.<ref name=ooprofile>Onlinopinion.com, [http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/author.asp?id=3933 Irfan Yusuf], accessed 28 April 2009</ref><ref name="NZ_Herald_10534281">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/islam/news/article.cfm?c_id=500817&objectid=10534281 |title=Irfan Yusuf: Islam isn't a synonym for terrorism |author=Yusuf, Irfan |date=26 September 2008 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |accessdate=5 October 2011}}</ref>
Yusuf's work has been published in 6 major newspapers<ref>{{cite web |url=http://newmatilda.com/contributor/2952 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-04-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090504134957/http://newmatilda.com/contributor/2952 |archive-date=4 May 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> and he has appeared on a number of television and radio programmes.<ref name=ooprofile>Onlinopinion.com, [http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/author.asp?id=3933 Irfan Yusuf], accessed 28 April 2009</ref><ref name="NZ_Herald_10534281">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/islam/news/article.cfm?c_id=500817&objectid=10534281 |title=Irfan Yusuf: Islam isn't a synonym for terrorism |author=Yusuf, Irfan |date=26 September 2008 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=5 October 2011}}</ref>


In an online article in September 2005, Yusuf criticised his former factional colleague [[Bronwyn Bishop]], a prominent Liberal member of the [[Australian House of Representatives]].<ref name=smh060905>''Sydney Morning Herald'', 6 September 2005 [http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Bishop-accused-of-keeping-bomb-in-skirt/2005/09/06/1125772516972.html Bishop accused of keeping bomb in skirt]</ref> Bishop had led a campaign to ban the [[muslim headscarf]] in state schools on grounds that it was inconsistent with school uniforms and it was therefore an "iconic emblem of defiance".<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2005/s1448343.htm]</ref> Yusuf said the campaign was more about discouraging rebelliousness and minimising cultural diversity, and facetiously suggested that dresses were far more of a national security issue: "How do we know that these women aren't hiding bombs under their dress?".<ref name=yusuf060905>Irfan Yusuf, Online Opinion, 6 September 2005, [http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=231 Mrs Bishop and the cloth]</ref> He has previously criticised what he says are Bishop's efforts to "marginalise a key faith-sector of mainstream Australia" as being "most helpful to Osama bin Ladin".<ref name=yusuf060905/> Bishop denied Yusuf's claim, saying it was "stupid" and offensive."<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/printfriendly.pl?http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/natint/stories/s1447773.htm]</ref> In a speech to the Australian Parliament, Bishop further responded to Yusuf's criticism, declaring that Yusuf was "known for his offensive behaviour towards women".<ref name=smh060905/>
In an online article in September 2005, Yusuf criticised his former factional colleague [[Bronwyn Bishop]], a prominent Liberal member of the [[Australian House of Representatives]].<ref name=smh060905>''Sydney Morning Herald'', 6 September 2005 [http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Bishop-accused-of-keeping-bomb-in-skirt/2005/09/06/1125772516972.html Bishop accused of keeping bomb in skirt]</ref> Bishop had led a campaign to ban the [[muslim headscarf]] in state schools on grounds that it was inconsistent with school uniforms and it was therefore an "iconic emblem of defiance".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2005/s1448343.htm|title = The World Today - Bronwyn Bishop calls for hijab ban in schools|website = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref> Yusuf said the campaign was more about discouraging rebelliousness and minimising cultural diversity, and facetiously suggested that dresses were far more of a national security issue: "How do we know that these women aren't hiding bombs under their dress?".<ref name=yusuf060905>Irfan Yusuf, Online Opinion, 6 September 2005, [http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=231 Mrs Bishop and the cloth]</ref> He has previously criticised what he says are Bishop's efforts to "marginalise a key faith-sector of mainstream Australia" as being "most helpful to Osama bin Ladin".<ref name=yusuf060905/> Bishop denied Yusuf's claim, saying it was "stupid" and offensive."<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/printfriendly.pl?http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/natint/stories/s1447773.htm| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121109045825/http://www.abc.net.au/cgi-bin/common/printfriendly.pl?http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/natint/stories/s1447773.htm| archive-date = 2012-11-09| title = The National Interest: 28 August 2005 - Bronwyn Bishop responds to the Aussie Mossie| website = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref> In a speech to the Australian Parliament, Bishop further responded to Yusuf's criticism, declaring that Yusuf was "known for his offensive behaviour towards women".<ref name=smh060905/>


Since then, Yusuf has publicly campaigned against [[violence against women]], particularly in the Muslim community.<ref name="NZ_Herald_10531715">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10531715 |title=Irfan Yusuf: Violence against women won't stop until men speak out |author=Yusuf, Irfan |date=12 September 2008 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |accessdate=5 October 2011}}</ref>
Since then, Yusuf has publicly campaigned against [[violence against women]], particularly in the Muslim community.<ref name="NZ_Herald_10531715">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10531715 |title=Irfan Yusuf: Violence against women won't stop until men speak out |author=Yusuf, Irfan |date=12 September 2008 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=5 October 2011}}</ref>


In 2007, Yusuf received the Iremonger award by publishers [[Allen and Unwin]], for his submission "Once were Radicals"<ref>[http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=441 Allen & Unwin - The Iremonger Award<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> that was published during 2009 as an autobiographical work ''Once Were Radicals: My years as a teenage [[Islamofascism|Islamo-fascist]]''.<ref name=oncewerebook/> In 2008, he was "highly commended" by the [[Jesuit]] publication [[Eureka Street]], for an essay on combating violence against women in Muslim-majority states.<ref>''Eureka Street Extra'', 19 July 2008, [http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=8181 Eureka Street Writers Awards winners announced]</ref>
In 2007, Yusuf received the Iremonger award by publishers [[Allen and Unwin]], for his submission "Once were Radicals"<ref>[http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=441 Allen & Unwin – The Iremonger Award<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519093523/http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=441 |date=19 May 2012 }}</ref> that was published during 2009 as an autobiographical work ''Once Were Radicals: My years as a teenage [[Islamofascism|Islamo-fascist]]''.<ref name=oncewerebook/> In 2008, he was "highly commended" by the [[Jesuit]] publication [[Eureka Street (magazine)|Eureka Street]], for an essay on combating violence against women in Muslim-majority states.<ref>''Eureka Street Extra'', 19 July 2008, [http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=8181 Eureka Street Writers Awards winners announced]</ref>


He was a guest speaker at the Sydney Writers Festival in 2009, and a description of the event said Irfan "points the finger at mainstream extremism and hypocrisy and is a passionate (and funny) voice of moderation."<ref name=writers>{{cite web|accessdate=2 June 2009|url=http://newmatilda.com/2009/05/21/festival|title=
He was a guest speaker at the [[Sydney Writers Festival]] in 2009, and a description of the event said Irfan "points the finger at mainstream extremism and hypocrisy and is a passionate (and funny) voice of moderation.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}}
Newmatilda.com At The Festival|publisher=New Matilda|date=21 May 2009}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
<references/>


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.blogger.com/profile/12032825228704836828 Link to Irfan's Blogger profile, listing his 7 blogs]
* [http://www.blogger.com/profile/12032825228704836828 Link to Irfan's Blogger profile, listing his 7 blogs]
* [http://www.newmatilda.com/contributor/2952 newmatilda.com - articles by Irfan Yusuf]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080215120357/http://www.newmatilda.com/contributor/2952 newmatilda.com – articles by Irfan Yusuf]
* [http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/author.asp?id=3933 Online Opinion - articles by Irfan Yusuf]
* [http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/author.asp?id=3933 Online Opinion – articles by Irfan Yusuf]

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{{Authority control}}


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{{Authority control|VIAF=96756037}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Yusuf, Irfan
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Australian writer
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1969
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yusuf, Irfan}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yusuf, Irfan}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:1969 births]]
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[[Category:Australian lawyers]]
[[Category:Australian Muslims]]
[[Category:Australian Muslims]]
[[Category:Australian writers]]
[[Category:Australian writers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Australian people of Pakistani descent]]
[[Category:Pakistani emigrants to Australia]]
[[Category:Australian people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Australian people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Muhajir people]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Sydney]]
[[Category:People from Karachi]]
[[Category:Macquarie Law School alumni]]
[[Category:People from Sydney]]
[[Category:Pakistani people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Pakistani lawyers]]
[[Category:Pakistani lawyers]]
[[Category:Pakistani writers]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Karachi]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Karachi]]
[[Category:Writers from Karachi]]
[[Category:Politicians from Karachi]]
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[[Category:Australian politicians of Pakistani descent]]
[[Category:People from Karachi]]

Latest revision as of 19:35, 21 May 2024

Irfan Yusuf (Urdu: عرفان یوسف) (born in 1969) is an Australian[1] social commentator[1] and author of the memoir Once Were Radicals: My years as a teenage Islamo-fascist.[2]

Education and work

[edit]

Yusuf was born in Karachi, Pakistan and was raised in Sydney.[citation needed] His father was from Pakistan and his mother was born in India.[3] He lived in Pakistan and the U.S. for a time, and then returned to Australia and attended St Andrew's Cathedral School in Sydney.[4]

He graduated from Macquarie University in law and economics.[5] He also has a Diploma of Legal Practice from the University of Technology, Sydney.[6] He was admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1994.

Political activities

[edit]

Yusuf was involved in campus politics prior to joining the Liberal Party in 1993 where he became prominent[7] in its conservative faction.[8] In 2005 Yusuf explained "from 1994 to 2002, I was a factional warrior for the non-Group (right-wing) faction of the NSW Liberals."[9] He was elected to the State Council of the NSW division of the Party from 1996–2000.[10] In 1999, he ran with other members of the Liberal Party for the Bankstown council as part of a group called "New Generation", he was unsuccessful.[11] He was also endorsed as Liberal Party of Australia candidate for the safe Labor seat of Reid in the 2001 Australian Federal Election.[12] He achieved a two-party preferred swing of over 5%.[13]

Leaving the Liberal Party

[edit]

He let his Liberal Party membership lapse in 2002 and in particular became critical of what he said was a takeover of the conservative faction by NSW Member of the Legislative Council David Clarke.[citation needed] In July 2006, in an episode of ABC's Four Corners,[14] he joined other former Liberals in criticising the direction of the Party. He accused Clarke of being willing to exploit antisemitism and homophobia to recruit Muslims from Sydney to his party and faction, and that he had made derogatory remarks to him about Jews and homosexuals.[15] Clarke vehemently denied Yusuf's claims, threatening legal action which never eventuated.[15]

After a scandal involving a racist leaflet emerged during the 2007 election, Yusuf remarked on ABC's Lateline that a member expelled from the Liberal Party was perhaps affected by being "surrounded by bigots."[16]

Commentator and author

[edit]

Yusuf's work has been published in 6 major newspapers[17] and he has appeared on a number of television and radio programmes.[18][19]

In an online article in September 2005, Yusuf criticised his former factional colleague Bronwyn Bishop, a prominent Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives.[20] Bishop had led a campaign to ban the muslim headscarf in state schools on grounds that it was inconsistent with school uniforms and it was therefore an "iconic emblem of defiance".[21] Yusuf said the campaign was more about discouraging rebelliousness and minimising cultural diversity, and facetiously suggested that dresses were far more of a national security issue: "How do we know that these women aren't hiding bombs under their dress?".[22] He has previously criticised what he says are Bishop's efforts to "marginalise a key faith-sector of mainstream Australia" as being "most helpful to Osama bin Ladin".[22] Bishop denied Yusuf's claim, saying it was "stupid" and offensive."[23] In a speech to the Australian Parliament, Bishop further responded to Yusuf's criticism, declaring that Yusuf was "known for his offensive behaviour towards women".[20]

Since then, Yusuf has publicly campaigned against violence against women, particularly in the Muslim community.[24]

In 2007, Yusuf received the Iremonger award by publishers Allen and Unwin, for his submission "Once were Radicals"[25] that was published during 2009 as an autobiographical work Once Were Radicals: My years as a teenage Islamo-fascist.[2] In 2008, he was "highly commended" by the Jesuit publication Eureka Street, for an essay on combating violence against women in Muslim-majority states.[26]

He was a guest speaker at the Sydney Writers Festival in 2009, and a description of the event said Irfan "points the finger at mainstream extremism and hypocrisy and is a passionate (and funny) voice of moderation.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Irfan Yusuf". ABC. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  2. ^ a b Irfan Yusuf (2009),Once were radicals – My years as a teenage Islamo-fascist, Allen and Unwin, May 2009
  3. ^ Ali, Mahir (2 May 2009). "Lessons of a wannabe teen hero". The Australian. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  4. ^ Jill Rowbotham, Religious affairs writer Portrait of a radical as a young man 13 December 2007 The Australian
  5. ^ Yusuf, Irfan (20 November 2008). Irfan Yusuf on Imams as Expert Witnesses (Speech). Conference '08. Melbourne, Victoria: University of Melbourne. Archived from the original on 18 February 2011.
  6. ^ Australian Homeland Security Research Centre, About Us Archived 8 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Sydney Writers' Festival - 404 Not Found".
  8. ^ "Ah, the tears of crocodiles". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 September 2005.
  9. ^ "Planet Irf: COMMENT: MRS Bishop defames me under Parliamentary Privilege". 7 September 2005.
  10. ^ "Stateline NSW". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012.
  11. ^ Yusuf, Irfan (24 September 2006). "Multiculturalism – the great debate begins". Daily Telegraph online. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  12. ^ The National Interest: 28 August 2005 – The Aussie Mossie
  13. ^ Carr, Adam. "COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA LEGISLATIVE ELECTION OF 10 NOVEMBER 2001". Psephos. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  14. ^ ABC, 17 July 2006, The Right Stuff
  15. ^ a b ABC Lateline, 5/9/05, Clarke denies denigrating Jews, homosexuals
  16. ^ ABC Lateline, 22 November 2007, Liberal candidate goes to ground after bogus flyer controversy
  17. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 May 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ^ Onlinopinion.com, Irfan Yusuf, accessed 28 April 2009
  19. ^ Yusuf, Irfan (26 September 2008). "Irfan Yusuf: Islam isn't a synonym for terrorism". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  20. ^ a b Sydney Morning Herald, 6 September 2005 Bishop accused of keeping bomb in skirt
  21. ^ "The World Today - Bronwyn Bishop calls for hijab ban in schools". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  22. ^ a b Irfan Yusuf, Online Opinion, 6 September 2005, Mrs Bishop and the cloth
  23. ^ "The National Interest: 28 August 2005 - Bronwyn Bishop responds to the Aussie Mossie". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012.
  24. ^ Yusuf, Irfan (12 September 2008). "Irfan Yusuf: Violence against women won't stop until men speak out". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  25. ^ Allen & Unwin – The Iremonger Award Archived 19 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  26. ^ Eureka Street Extra, 19 July 2008, Eureka Street Writers Awards winners announced
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