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	'''Tufail Ahmad''' is a British journalist and political commentator of [[India~~\|Indian~~]] origin. He has been the Director of the South Asia Studies Project at the [[Middle East Media Research Institute]] (MEMRI) in [[Washington, D.C.]] In his recent writings, he was described as a Contributing Editor at Firstpost and as Executive Director of the Open Source Institute (OSI), New Delhi.<ref>{{cite web \|last1=Ahmad \|first1=Tufail \|title=The Radicalisation Series: Analysing the threat to Muslim youths in India \|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/the-radicalisation-series-analysing-the-threat-to-muslim-youths-in-india-2969838.html \|newspaper=Firstpost \|access-date=10 September 2016}}</ref><ref>[http://www.firstpost.com/long-reads/indias-ex-muslims-3274246.html India's ex-Muslims: Shedding traditional Islam for science]</ref>		'''Tufail Ahmad''' is a British journalist and political commentator of [[India]]n origin. He has been the Director of the South Asia Studies Project at the [[Middle East Media Research Institute]] (MEMRI) in [[Washington, D.C.]] In his recent writings, he was described as a Contributing Editor at Firstpost and as Executive Director of the Open Source Institute (OSI), New Delhi.<ref>{{cite web \|last1=Ahmad \|first1=Tufail \|title=The Radicalisation Series: Analysing the threat to Muslim youths in India \|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/the-radicalisation-series-analysing-the-threat-to-muslim-youths-in-india-2969838.html \|newspaper=Firstpost \|access-date=10 September 2016}}</ref><ref>[http://www.firstpost.com/long-reads/indias-ex-muslims-3274246.html India's ex-Muslims: Shedding traditional Islam for science]</ref>

	== Life and career ==		== Life and career ==

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{{short description|British journalist}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Tufail Ahmad
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| birth_name =
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| birth_place = [[West Champaran]], [[Bihar]], India
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| nationality = British
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| occupation = journalist, commentator
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}}

'''Tufail Ahmad''' is a British journalist and political commentator of [[India|Indian]] origin. He has been the Director of the South Asia Studies Project at the [[Middle East Media Research Institute]] (MEMRI) in [[Washington, D.C.]] In his recent writings, he was described as a Contributing Editor at Firstpost and as Executive Director of the Open Source Institute (OSI), New Delhi.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ahmad |first1=Tufail |title=The Radicalisation Series: Analysing the threat to Muslim youths in India |url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/the-radicalisation-series-analysing-the-threat-to-muslim-youths-in-india-2969838.html |newspaper=Firstpost |access-date=10 September 2016}}</ref><ref>[http://www.firstpost.com/long-reads/indias-ex-muslims-3274246.html India's ex-Muslims: Shedding traditional Islam for science]</ref>

== Life and career ==
Tufail was born in the [[West Champaran district]] in [[Bihar]], India. He is currently a British citizen.<ref name=bio/>

Tufail has a B.A. (Hons) in [[Sociology]] from the [[Aligarh Muslim University]]. He further studied Social Systems at [[Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi|Jawaharlal Nehru University]] and War Studies at the [[King's College London]], receiving M.A. degrees in both. He also holds a Post-Graduate Diploma in Journalism from the [[Indian Institute of Mass Communication]], New Delhi.<ref name=bio>{{cite web |url=http://www.tufailahmad.com/ |title=Tufail Ahmad - Journalist and commentator on South Asian affairs |publisher=tufailahmad.com |access-date=2015-03-12}}
</ref><ref name=MEMRI>
{{cite web |url=http://www.memri.org/about-memri.html |title=About us |publisher=Middle East Media Research Institute |access-date=2015-03-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510085028/http://www.memri.org/about-memri.html |archive-date=10 May 2016 |df=dmy-all }}
</ref>

He worked in Delhi for C-voter, [[Press Trust of India]] and Inomy Media. Subsequently, he worked as an editor with the [[BBC Urdu|BBC Urdu Service]] in London for approximately eight years, focusing on the coverage of [[Pakistan]].
<ref name=bio/><ref name=MEMRI/>

Tufail is currently the Director of the 'South Asia Studies Project' at the [[Middle East Media Research Institute]] (MEMRI) in [[Washington, D.C.]] His research is focused on jihadist movements in [[Afghanistan]], [[Pakistan]], [[India]] and [[Bangladesh]] as well as the counter-terrorism policies of the countries. He also carries out research on issues of cultural and religious freedom in these countries.<ref name=MEMRI/>

== Works ==
Tufail co-edited ''The Internet Economy of India'' published by Inomy Media, in 2001.

He writes research reports at MEMRI,<ref>[http://www.memri.org/subject_reports/en/840/3/0/0/840.htm Tufail Ahmad research reports at the Middle East Media Research Institute]
</ref>
regular columns in [[The New Indian Express]]<ref>
[http://www.newindianexpress.com/search/simple.do;jsessionid=BF82B352C678ECFC9007011D8E3B8581.jvm1?articleTypes=news+gallery+ventunoVideo+youtubeVideo+grabNetworksVideo&sectionId=3&searchString=tufail+ahmad&sortString=score&sortOrder=desc&destinationSectionId=95&pageLength=15&publicationName=nie&pageNumber=2# Tufail Ahmad columns in the New Indian Express]
</ref> and occasional articles in the [[Open (Indian magazine)|OPEN magazine]].<ref>
[http://www.openthemagazine.com/category/author/tufail-ahmad Tufail Ahmad columns in the OPEN Magazine]
</ref>
He has liberal views, opposing jihadism and fundamentalism, and encourages Indian Muslims to participate in Indian polity and society.<ref>
Tufail Ahmad, [http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/nation/modi-rule-an-opportunity-for-muslims Modi Rule: an Opportunity for Muslims], OPEN Magazine, 13 October 2014.
</ref> He warns India and Pakistan of their jihadist threats.<ref>
Tufail Ahmad,
[http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/voices/the-rise-of-ideological-jihadists The Rise of Ideological Jihadists], OPEN Magazine, 21 August 2014
</ref><ref>
Tufail Ahmad, [http://www.hudson.org/research/9884-the-next-decade-of-jihadism-in-pakistan The Next Decade of Jihadism in Pakistan], Hudson Institute, 20 June 2013
</ref>
He is concerned about the Liberal-Left intellectuals aligning with the Islamist forces owing to their supposed zeal in opposing the West.<ref name=bio/>

With the rise of the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIS]], Tufail has been tracking the reactions in the Muslim community and highlighting the calls for reform from within the community.<ref>Ahmad, Tufail. [http://www.newindianexpress.com/columns/Muslim-Liberals-Vs-ISIS/2015/03/03/article2694781.ece Muslim Liberals Vs ISIS], New Indian Express, 3 March 2015.
</ref>

In early 2016, Tufail Ahmad's book ''Jihadist Threat To India -- The Case For Islamic Reformation By An Indian Muslim'' was published in India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://infolimner.com/|title=infolimner™|website=infolimner.com|access-date=2016-05-11}}</ref> The book was launched by Shri Kiren Rijiju, India's federal minister for home affairs, at a ceremony held at the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) in New Delhi on March 31, 2016. At the book launch, other eminent personalities who spoke alongside Rijiju included: former Indian Army chief General N.C. Vij, former Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Shri Vikram Sood, former Indian Army commander Lt.-Gen. Ata Hasnain, and Pakistan affairs expert Sushan Sareen.<ref name="vifindia.org">{{Cite news|url=http://www.vifindia.org/event/report/2016/april/04/vimarsha-on-jihadist-threat-to-india-the-case-for-islamic-reformation-by-an-indian-muslim#sthash.1ZwrXfBZ.dpuf|title=Vimarsha on 'Jihadist Threat to India – The Case for Islamic Reformation by an Indian Muslim'}}</ref>

Speaking at the launch of his book, Ahmad accused the Indian state of handing over its responsibility of teaching Muslim children to madrassas (Islamic seminaries) which he described as counter-liberty movements; and while stressing the need for Islamic Reformation, he called for teaching mathematics, economics and physics to Muslim girls from Grade 1 through Grade 12.<ref name="vifindia.org"/> In a review of his book, American Indologist Dr. David Frawley described the author in these words: "Tufail Ahmad is a powerful and provocative voice for reform in Islamic society and in India in particular. He is also a key expert on national security issues in India, which is under siege by jihad."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dailyo.in/politics/jihadist-threat-to-india-tufail-ahmad-terrorism-al-qaeda-isis-pakistan-islam-balochistan/story/1/10356.html|title=Reforms in Islam can help destroy the cancer of jihad|last=Frawley|first=David}}</ref>

== Advocacy of Reform ==

On 30 November 2016, Tufail Ahmad unveiled a 12-point document, in which he proposed a "blueprint" for a [[Uniform Civil Code]] for India.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ahmad|first1=Tufail|title=A Blueprint for the Uniform Civil Code|url=https://twitter.com/tufailelif/status/803674834035085312|website=Twitter.com|access-date=30 November 2016}}</ref> The document was named "the Universal Bill of Rights for the Indian Citizen" and was written by Ahmad in collaboration with two others, Satya Prakash and Siddharth Singh.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ahmad|first1=Tufail|title=Statement on the Draft Uniform Civil Code for the Indian Citizen|url=http://indiafacts.org/statement-draft-uniform-civil-code-indian-citizen/|website=IndiaFacts.org|access-date=30 November 2016}}
</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Muslim intellectual Tufail Ahmad proposes a revolutionary Uniform Civil Code|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/muslim-intellectual-tufail-ahmad-proposes-a-revolutionary-uniform-civil-code_1954842.html|access-date=30 November 2016|publisher=Zee News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Muslim intellectual proposes a revolutionary Uniform Civil Code|url=http://www.thestatesman.com/india/muslim-intellectual-proposes-a-revolutionary-uniform-civil-code-1480508995.html|access-date=30 November 2016|publisher=The Statesman}}</ref> Effectively, Tufail Ahmad is the first Indian to have authored a Uniform Civil Code to further debate about this subject among Indians.

In January 2018, Ahmad critiqued The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 passed by the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament. Ahmad said the bill fell short of reform for Muslims. With the aid of Smita Dikshit, a legal counsel practicing in the Supreme Court, Ahmad authored an alternative bill to raise awareness about Muslim issues called The Muslim Family Reforms Bill, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ahmad|first1=Tufail|title=MEMRI releases family reform bill, aims to raise awareness among Muslims on religious issues|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/memri-releases-family-reform-bill-aims-to-raise-awareness-among-muslims-on-religious-issues-4316261.html|website=Firstpost.com|access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref>

== Reception ==
Tufail Ahmad's employer, MEMRI, is alleged to be a pro-Israeli organisation that selectively presents Muslim sources to show them in a negative light.<ref>Brian Whitaker, [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/aug/12/worlddispatch.brianwhitaker Selective Memri], The Guardian, 12 August 2002.</ref> [[Zafarul Islam Khan]], the editor of ''[[The Milli Gazette]]'', accused Ahmad of promoting Islamophobic views and likened him to [[Taslima Nasreen]] and [[Tarek Fateh]].<ref>Zafarul Islam Khan, [http://www.dailyo.in/politics/tufail-ahmad-islamophobia-urdu-press-milli-gazette-indian-muslims/story/1/11790.html In response to Tufail Ahmad: Is this the beginning of assault on India's Urdu Press?], Daily O, 16 July 2016.</ref> Tufail Ahmad has accused his critics Zafarul Islam and Shahid Siddiqui of promoting a jihadist mindset among Indian Muslims through the Urdu-language media.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ahmad|first1=Tufail|title=In Response to Zafarul Islam: Islamist Editors are Indeed Radicalising Indian Muslims|url=http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/politics/in-response-to-zafarul-islam-islamist-editors-are-indeed-radicalising-indian-muslims}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links==
* [http://indiafacts.org/author/tufail-ahmad/ Columns in India Facts]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahmad, Tufail}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Aligarh Muslim University alumni]]
[[Category:Jawaharlal Nehru University alumni]]
[[Category:Alumni of King's College London]]
[[Category:Indian columnists]]
[[Category:British journalists]]
[[Category:British male journalists]]
[[Category:English Muslims]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to England]]
[[Category:Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Tufail Ahmad - Revision history

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