Posted on 08/25/2004 6:42:21 PM PDT by Bogolyubski
Is Tariq Ramadan, the Swiss born Muslim professor whose grandfather founded the Egyptian Brotherhood, a moderate or a radical? According to SwissInfo,
His elder brother, Hani, director of Genevas Islamic centre, was fired from his public teaching job after he told a French newspaper that stoning a woman for adultery was acceptable.
Ramadan has so far only called for a moratorium on stoning.
Now this is perfect. Ramadan, in calling for a moratorium on stoning, would appear to some people (including Notre Dame which hired him) as a moderate Muslim. But of course he hasnt renounced stoning as such. How could he? Hes a Muslim. For a Muslim to oppose Shariah law in principle is an impossibility. But delaying and temporizingsaying, Were not ready to seek Islamic stoning in Europe nowis perfectly in keeping with Islam. Muslims are told by their religion that when outward circumstances make it hard to wage jihad, its ok to have a truce with the dar al-harb, the realm of the non-Muslims. But its only a temporary expedient, to be abandoned as soon as possible.
Ramadans position on stoning reminds me of what one of the Democratic presidential candidates said to David Frost in an interview during the 1988 primaries. Frost broadcast a series of interviews with each of the candidates. He asked each of them what they thought of the idea of a homosexual being president of the U.S. One of the candidates, I think it was Bruce Babbitt, said it was irrelevant. Babbitt was being a consistent, i.e., radical, liberal. Another candidate, I forget which one, gave Frost the moderate answer: Were not ready for that yet. This is like Ramadan saying he supports a moratorium on the stoning of women.
...sings Krusty as the boat nears the falls...
If you (or other Freepers) have any more info on this guy I'm very interested. I just live about 40 miles from where he was supposed to teach.
68skylark, I think you'll get what you need here!:
http://watch.windsofchange.net/themes_71.htm
Tariq Ramadan, target for European intelligence services
For several weeks, a Federal judge in the state of Washington has had on his desk reports from European intelligence services implicating Tariq Ramadan in several investigations into the activities of Al Qaeda. According to our sources, these reports were obtained by lawyers acting on behalf of the families of the victims of the attack on the World Trade Center of September 11, 2001. A lawsuit is currently being brought on behalf of 5,600 plaintiffs seeking damages and interest against the persons or groups suspected of having supported Osama bin Ladens organization. According to Jean-Charles Brisard, former member of the intelligence services and now a private investigator hired by the victims families, this international investigation has obtained the political and law-enforcement cooperation of thirty countries. Since the end of 2002, the Geneva Islamic Center, where Tariq Ramadan sits on the board of directors, and of which brother Hani Ramadan is the director, appears among the organizations under investigation.
No link to the Muslim Brotherhood
Several of the newer elements of this investigation personally implicate the star preacher to young French Muslims. According to documents provided to American law-enforcement officials, Tariq Ramadan is allegedly the nephew of of Omar Abdel Rahman, the planner of the first attack on the World Trade Center, sentenced to life in prison in the United States. Grand son of the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al-Banna, in 1993, Ramadan was allegedly put in charge of the Daawa (preaching) for Europe by that Islamist organization. Ramadan denies the charges: I am not related to Omar Abdel Rahman and have no organic ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Two harmless conversations
Moreover, the name of the Muslim intellectual was cited in several anti-terrorist investigations. As part of an investigation into an Al-Qaeda cell in Spain, he was named as one of the usual contacts for Ahmed Brahim, considered to be one of Al-Qaedas treasurers indicted in April 2002 by magistrate Garzon. In particular, his name is mentioned during a telephone conversation of 22 April 1999, of which Le Parisien has obtained a copy, between Ahmed Brahim and an official at the Tawhid bookstore in Lyon, which publishes Ramadans books. The conversation concerns the acquisition of blank audio cassettes and the invitation extended to young French citizens in Majorca to work for the path of Allah. The Swiss intellectual is also named in the trial in France of a group suspected of having planned an attack against the US embassy. Djamel Beghal, considered to be network leader, told the investigating magistrate Jean-Louis Bruguière on October 1, 2001: In 1994, I followed courses taught by Tarek Ramadan. The preachers response: I do not know Ahmed Brahim. My name was simply mentioned over the course of two harmless conversations... Moreover, I didnt begin teaching in Paris until 1997. Another charge against him: according to the investigations conducted by the lawyers acting on behalf of the families of the World Trade Center victims, the Ramadan family address appears in a register at the Al Taqwa bank, which is on the American State Departments list of organizations accused of supporting Islamist terrorism. Again, Tariq Ramadan denies the charge: We have never had relations with that bank.
A real stack of evidence
The last item recorded by the intelligence services: Tariq Ramadan and his brother allegedly organized a 1991 meeting in a Geneva hotel at which both Ayman al-Zawahiri, current al-Qaeda number 2, and and Omar Abdel Rahman were present. What of these liaisons dangereuses? I have never met these people. So many denials that do not impress Jean-Charles Brisard: To-day there is a real stack of evidence pointing to Tariq Ramadans having had relations with several terrorists, he says. He has renounced the Muslim Brotherhood but he shares their heritage. Under the cover of moderation, he is accumulating a radicalism that may encourage Jihad.
Thanks -- looks like good info.
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