Victor Begg
{{Short description|American writer}}
{{Infobox artist
| name = Victor Begg
| image = Begg, Author and philanthropist.jpg
| alt = A head and shoulders portrait of a fifty-something man with white hair and glasses, looking into the camera
| birth_name = Mirza Ghalib Begg
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1947}}
| birth_place = Hyderabad, Dominion of India
}}
Mirza Ghalib (Victor) Begg (born 1947) is an Indian-born Muslim American author, philanthropist and community leader. Alongside his column-writing and community activism, Begg is a former entrepreneur and businessman who opened several furniture stores throughout metro-Detroit in the 1980s.
Early life and education
Victor Begg was born to an upper-class family of eight siblings in Hyderabad, India.{{Cite web|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/04/30/muslim-activist-details-interfaith-work-true-blue-american-story/3382196002/|title=Muslim activist details interfaith work in 'true-blue American story'|last=Hicks|first=Mark|website=Detroit News|language=en|access-date=2020-03-19}}
Career
= Muslim community activist =
In the midst of opening the first of his Naked Furniture franchises, Begg began to invest time as a leader in metro-Detroit.{{Cite web|url=https://sites.udmercy.edu/alumni/2019/09/18/get-to-know-victor-begg-74-sharing-his-american-story/|title=Get to Know: Victor Begg '74, sharing his American story|date=2019-09-18|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-19}} In the early 1980s, he co-founded an umbrella organization that would eventually become the Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan (CIOM) focused on “civic, interfaith, media and other forums to represent a ‘singular’ community voice.” The council was formally established in 1988 and incorporated in 1993.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mimuslimcouncil.org/history|title=History|website=mimuslimcouncil|language=en|access-date=2020-03-19}} During the incorporation phase, he established the Muslim Unity Center mosque in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan with the intention of creating an inclusive environment for a diversity of ethnic groups and various schools of thought within Islam.{{Cite web|url=https://hwpi.harvard.edu/pluralismarchive/muslim-unity-center-cj|title=Muslim Unity Center (CJ)|website=hwpi.harvard.edu|language=en|access-date=2020-03-19}} He has been widely regarded as a religious leader for Muslims in metro-Detroit since the 1980s.{{Cite book|last=Pupcenoks|first=Juris|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y7A0CwAAQBAJ&q=detroit+free+press+victor+ghalib+begg&pg=PA158|title=Western Muslims and Conflicts Abroad: Conflict Spillovers to Diasporas|date=2015-12-07|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-42632-5|language=en}}
After establishing the CIOM and the Muslim Unity Center in the 1990s, Begg headed the Muslim American Alliance. The group focused on media, networking and advocacy, and Begg effectively became a spokesman for the community where he fielded queries from journalists and offered perspective on issues affecting Islamic communities.
In 2007, then-CIOM-chairmen Begg organized Sunni and Shi’ite leaders in Michigan to sign a peace pact affirming their commitment to speak out against conflicts between the two sects.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/sunni-and-shiite-muslims-in-the-u-s-come-together-in-life-and-prayer|title=Sunni and Shiite Muslims in the U.S. Come Together in Life and Prayer|date=2015-03-25|website=Fox News|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-19}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-apr-23-me-shiasunni23-story.html|title=Area Muslims promote new code of unity|date=2007-04-23|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-01}} Then in 2009, he began a collaboration with Jewish community volunteers in metro-Detroit called “Mitzvah Day,” where non-profit Islamic and Jewish groups collaborated to feed and clothe local residents on and around Christmas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20091218/FREE/912189992/detroits-muslim-community-joins-jewish-groups-to-help-with-mitzvah|title=Detroit's Muslim community joins Jewish groups to help with Mitzvah Day|date=2009-12-18|website=Crain's Detroit Business|language=en|access-date=2020-03-19}}{{Cite news|last=Karoub|first=Jeff|url=http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/12/24/mich_muslims_join_jews_for_christmas_day_mitzvah/|title=Mich. Muslims join Jews for Christmas Day Mitzvah|date=2009-12-24|work=Boston.com|access-date=2020-04-01}} In 2011, Begg, alongside Jewish and Assyrian leaders, organized an Interfaith Health Fair run by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Detroit and the CIOM.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-News/Mixing-it-up-in-Motor-City-mosque|title=Mixing it up in Motor City mosque|website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com|date=21 July 2011 |access-date=2020-03-19}}
Throughout 2012, Begg spoke out against Muslim violence in response to the publishing of "Innocence of Muslims," a film critical of Muhammad and the Muslim faith.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theoaklandpress.com/news/detroit-area-islamic-catholic-leaders-violence-not-answer-to-anti-muhammad-film/article_cdb39c94-6ccb-5303-b558-c66260796f35.html|title=Detroit-area Islamic, Catholic leaders: Violence not answer to anti-Muhammad film|last=SLEZAK|first=JOE|website=The Oakland Press|date=15 September 2012 |language=en|access-date=2020-04-01}}
In 2013, Begg criticized McDonald's for rolling back the decision to sell halal food in Dearborn after a $700,000 settlement against the restaurant chain that alleged the menu items were not consistently halal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2013/06/25/mcdonalds-retreats-from-selling-halal-food-after-lawsuit.html|title=McDonald's Retreats From Selling Halal Food After Lawsuit|last=AP.com|first=Katie Little With|date=2013-06-25|website=CNBC|access-date=2020-04-01}}
= Writer and author =
Currently, Begg serves as a guest columnist for several Michigan- and Florida-based newspapers. He has published work in the Treasure Coast Palm,{{Cite web|url=https://www.tcpalm.com/story/opinion/contributors/2017/06/14/guest-column-anti-sharia-protesters-selling-phantom-threats/396158001/|title=Guest column: Anti-sharia protesters are selling phantom threats|website=Treasure Coast Newspapers|language=en|access-date=2020-03-19}} Detroit Free Press,{{Cite web|url=https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/readers/2014/08/29/isis-extremists-do-not-represent-majority-of-muslims-guest-column/14761235/|website=Michigan|language=en|access-date=2020-03-19|title=ISIS, extremists do not represent majority of Muslims (Guest column) }} USA Today,{{Cite web|url=https://www.tcpalm.com/story/opinion/contributors/2019/08/26/kashmir-rugged-and-beautiful-ticking-time-bomb/2083950001|title=Kashmir, rugged and beautiful, is a ticking time bomb between India and Pakistan|last=Begg|first=Victor|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-19}} Florida Today,{{Cite web|url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/11/03/opinion-after-nyc-attack-muslim-americans-face-fear-retaliation/828172001/|title=Opinion: After NYC attack, Muslim-Americans face fear of retaliation|website=Florida Today|language=en|access-date=2020-03-19}} and Lebanon Daily News,{{Cite web|url=https://www.ldnews.com/story/opinion/2015/11/29/dont-let-terrorists-define-narrative/76527592/|title=Don't let terrorists define the narrative|website=Lebanon Daily News|language=en|access-date=2020-03-19}} among others. He has also made guest appearances on several national news and regional media outlets, including ABC, CBS, FOX, NPR, and the Los Angeles Times {{Cite web|url=https://www.arabamericannews.com/2019/03/31/longtime-metro-detroit-muslim-advocate-returning-to-michigan-for-april-book-tour/|title=Longtime Metro Detroit Muslim advocate returning to Michigan for April book tour|date=2019-03-31|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-19}} His columns often revolve around acknowledging and working to resolve conflicts worldwide involving Muslims and tensions surrounding Muslim-Americans.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tcpalm.com/story/opinion/contributors/2017/11/01/muslim-americans-pray-offender-isnt-one-us-guest-column/821055001/|title=After NYC attack, Muslim-Americans face fear of retaliation {{!}} Guest column|website=Treasure Coast Newspapers|language=en|access-date=2020-03-19}} Begg is a self-proclaimed supporter of the Republican Party.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tcpalm.com/story/opinion/contributors/2019/07/18/republican-muslim-immigrant-im-fed-up-fearmongering-gop/1759102001/|title=I'm a Republican, an immigrant and a Muslim — and I want my party back {{!}} Guest column|website=TCPalm|language=en|access-date=2020-03-19}}
In February 2019, Begg released his first full-length book, Our Muslim Neighbors: Achieving the American Dream, an Immigrant's Memoir.{{Cite web|url=https://readthespirit.com/explore/victor-beggs-our-muslim-neighbors-meet-a-muslim-this-year-build-a-healthier-community/|title=Victor Begg's 'Our Muslim Neighbors': Meet a Muslim this year—build a healthier community|date=2019-02-04|website=Explore|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-19}}
Personal life
Begg married Lata Shanbhag in 1975 after meeting at the University of Detroit. They have 3 children.