Ain't no mountain high enough

Mostafa Salameh, one of only 12 men to have climbed the highest peaks in all seven continents and skied to the North and South Poles, is an inveterate adventurer. But the physical challenges are not the only ones he's conquered. Born to Palestinian refugees in Kuwait, Salameh moved countries — Jordan, England and Scotland, where he lives with his Scottish wife and four sons — in the quest for education and a better life. The story of how he turned to climbing, after a dream in which he saw himself offering prayers somewhere on "top of the world", Googled "highest place on Earth" and found Mt Everest, is a testimony to his never-say-die spirit. Salameh has now emerged as a votary of tolerant Islam, and hopes he is a positive role model for Muslim youth who are increasingly turning to radical Islam and violence. Excerpts from an interview with the mountaineer who was in Delhi to promote his just released autobiography, Dreams of a Refugee:

Forty-five is young to write an autobiography. Why did you feel the need to tell your story?

I wanted to show how everyone has an Everest in their life, that you can achieve anything you want to achieve. I am using it to promote a good image of Islam because of what's happening around the Middle East, to highlight the issue of refugees, which is a big topic at the moment. I talk about education and how important it is for the Middle East.

Your visit to India played an important role in shaping you. Tell us about that. 

I first came to India in 2002 and stayed mostly in Kashmir. I followed a Sufi teacher. I stayed in a temple, and prayed in Buddhist and Hindu temples. I learnt a lot from Hinduism and Buddhism, many things that Islam didn't teach me. I have come back three times since. I love this place.

Isn't there a contradiction between Hinduism with your own faith here?

I carry god in my heart. I am proud to be a Muslim. But god is not just in a place that you go to him — he is in your heart. Each religion will give you something. I don't have to change you to believe what I believe and you don't need to change me. I want to deliver a message: Islam is not what ISIS calls it, or what Saudi Arabia, with their extremist Wahabbi views, proclaims.

Were you criticised for your stance? 

Of course. I had taken the Bible and the Quran with me to the South Pole and people attacked me when they saw me holding a cross.

The west has its prejudices, but are Muslim nations any better?

 

I was born in Kuwait and lived there for 18 years. And yet, I didn't have a passport that would entitle me to study in Kuwait. The Middle East has a lot of racism. See how they treat the workers — the Indians, Pakistanis like slaves. There are double standards on both sides. If these Muslim nations were so concerned about Islam, why are the Syrian refugees crossing the seas to go to Europe? Why is not Saudi Arabia, UAE or Qatar, which have lots of money, taking them in and building houses on their land?

You took the Tibetan flag with you on Everest?

It was 2008. The Olympics were on and the Chinese were very strict about not letting any (Free Tibet) flags reach Everest. So I took three Tibetan flags with me and hid them with the baby wipes. The Tibetan flag has been hoisted atop the Everest every single year. That year I was the only one to take the flag to the top. It was an honour. I took the same flag to the South Pole in 2015. I have a strong feeling for Tibetans. I look at it as a freedom cause, just like Palestine.

You've spoken openly about taking drugs.

It is the truth. I am not embarrassed to admit it. When I came to India in 2001, I stopped. But I've experienced it, and I enjoyed it. I won't advice people to take drugs but it's a part of my life that I can't not talk about.

What was your most difficult expedition?

Definitely the South Pole. I was there for 53 days and I lost 20 kgs. It was tough.

What next?

I'm taking 14 Jordanian women up to Everest in 2017 to advocate women's empowerment in the Middle East.