By Jessica Reed
Tariq Ramadan is a controversial Swiss islamologist and scholar who publishes the bulk of his academic work in French. To many, he is Europe's leading muslim intellectual. Often invited to talk-shows in France in the early 00's, he has been laregly avoided (censored?) by the media in the past two years, which accused him of advocating anti-semitism (Le Monde article, in english), misogynism and religious extremism.
On the other side of the Channel, he is an Oxford-Universty professor and a highly respected figure, who was interviewed by Rosemary Bechler for openDemocracy. Several American publications chose him to decrypt the French suburbian riots in the fall of 2005. Back in 2004, his visa was revoked by the US Departement of Homeland security.
Yesterday the United States once again denied him the right to set foot in the country, and this "based solely on his actions, which constituted providing material support to a terrorist organization" : Ramadan allegedly gave $765 to humanitarian organisations providing aid to Palestinians. Many denounces what seems to be a deliberate act of censorship. The American Prospect magazine called him "a cold-blooded islamist who believes that Islam is the cure for the malaise wrought by liberal values". Ramadan quickly defended himself by publishing many (link in french) lenghty rebuttals. Many stood up for him.
In the months that followed 9/11 I watched many French political shows featuring Tariq Ramadan - at the time he was all the rage, a symbolic academic figure to be listenned to at all cost so as to understand the complexity of the so-called war on terror days. The scholar was indeed often provocative, at times offering comments and analysis similar to Abu Izadeen's. But silencing his voice always sounded terribly counter-productive to me, that is if we truly want to understand the different dynamics, movements and thoughts currently shaping the landscape of the communitarian debate in Europe.
Elsewhere: Le Monde will be hosting an online chat with Tariq Ramadan, tomorrow at 14 o'clock GMT. The discussion's main topic will be: "Is talking about Islam taboo?".
