Muslim scholar rouses support over visa revocation

Catholic News Service ^ | September 16, 2004 | Patricia Zapor

[NYer]

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A Muslim scholar whose visa to teach at the University of Notre Dame was revoked shortly before the start of the school year has roused the support of Christians and Muslims who say he would add a valuable voice to religious understanding.

Tariq Ramadan, a Swiss Islamic theologian, was to have started work at the Catholic university in Indiana in August. In February, he was issued an H-1B visa, a category reserved for professionals. In late July, after his family had already shipped their belongings to Indiana, the State Department revoked the visa and told Ramadan he could reapply.

The only explanation given was that the Department of Homeland Security had requested the action, according to Scott Appleby, director of Notre Dame's Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies.

Ramadan's situation quickly became the subject of news stories and editorials in the United States and in Europe. A handful of detractors suggested that Ramadan had links to extremists and that he was anti-Semitic. Others rose to his defense.

Ramadan himself wrote an opinion piece published in daily newspapers that rebutted the arguments raised about his work and his connections.

"I admit that my intellectual project is inherently controversial," he wrote. "My goal is to foster communities within the Islamic world that are seeking a path between their often bitter experience with some American and European policies on the one hand and the unacceptable violence of Islamic extremists on the other."

He said he shares some Muslims' criticisms of Western governments, including "the deleterious worldwide effects of unregulated American consumerism" and finds U.S. policies in the Middle East "misguided and counterproductive."

But, he noted that he also criticizes many "so-called Islamic governments, including that of Saudi Arabia, for their human rights violations and offenses against human dignity, personal freedom and pluralism."

Ramadan said he makes "no apologies for taking a critical look at both Islam and the West; in doing so I am being true to my faith and to the ethics of my Swiss citizenship. I believe Muslims can remain faithful to their religion and be able, from within pluralistic and democratic societies, to oppose all injustices."

Holy Cross Father Edward Malloy, Notre Dame's president, told the university student newspaper, The Observer, that neither Ramadan nor the university has heard an explanation of why the visa was revoked.

Because Ramadan has not been given a chance to hear and address whatever allegations led to the State Department's action, "it seems to me the law's not being fulfilled," Father Malloy told the paper.

Among those speaking in Ramadan's favor were the 15 scholars who make up the board of directors of the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy in Washington.

"Revoking Dr. Ramadan's visa will not only deprive Notre Dame students of a great educational opportunity, it will also deny the American people and institutions a much-needed opportunity to engage the Muslim world in a real and serious dialogue," wrote the center's directors.

Appleby said in a letter to colleagues posted on the Kroc Institute's Web site that despite assertions that Ramadan's views constitute a threat "we have seen no evidence that he poses any threat to our national security. In fact, we believe the world could be a safer place if he is allowed to continue his work of bringing together in dialogue the divided and contentious voices within Islam."

Appleby said Ramadan "is a strong but moderate voice in a world plagued by extremism."

Ramadan was named in April by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential thinkers in the world. Among his recent publications are the books "To Be a European Muslim" and "Western Muslims and the Future of Islam."

Father Francis Tiso, an associate director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said from his reading of some of Ramadan's work the theologian would be a valuable asset to Muslim-Christian understanding in the United States.

He likened Ramadan's perspectives on the secularization of Islam in Europe to the kind of thinking among Catholic theologians that preceded the Second Vatican Council.

"He discusses Islamic reform in terms of modernizing on its own terms, using its own resources," Father Tiso told Catholic News Service.

Like Christianity, Islam in Europe struggles with the effects of a secular society, he explained. Religion in the United States faces secularism also, but in very different ways.

"I think it would have been useful to Catholic-Muslim dialogue in this country for him to teach in the United States," Father Tiso said. And Ramadan's studies could benefit from closely observing the very different role religion plays in U.S. society than it does in Europe, he added.

[NYer]

"I think it would have been useful to Catholic-Muslim dialogue in this country for him to teach in the United States," Father Tiso said.

Fine! Let him find a non-sectarian college or university.

[Paleo Conservative]

I think it would have been useful to Catholic-Muslim dialogue in this country

Translation:
It would have been useful for Dhimmi-Muslim dialogue in this country.

[Mr. Mojo]

I think it would have been useful to Catholic-Muslim dialogue in this country for him to teach in the United States," Father Tiso said.

Dialogue? I'll give them dialogue. "Get the hell out of my country!"

[Rummyfan]

Eff him and the horse he tried to ride in on! What was Notre Dame thinking? The more I see of Islam the more I am convinced it is nothing but a death cult. It may not have always been thus but it has certainly evolved into one. Of course, in a reciprocal move, I'm sure some priest has been invited to spend a semester at Riyadh U lecturing on the glories of Christianity. NOT!

[NYer]

A MUST READ ... AT THIS LINK

“In an interview about ten years ago, I was asked candidly and with enviable optimism: ‘Do you also hold that Europe will either be Christian or not be?’ It seems to me that the reply I made then is well suited to the conclusion of my statements today.

“I think – I said then – that Europe will either become Christian again or become Muslim. What seems to me to be without a future is the ‘culture of nothing’, of freedom without limits or content, of scepticism hailed as an intellectual conquest, which seems to be the attitude mainly dominant among the European peoples, more or less rich in means and poor in truth. This ‘culture of nothing’ (supported by hedonism and libertine insatiability) will not be able to bear the ideological assault of Islam, which will not be lacking. Only the rediscovery of the Christian drama as the only salvation for man – and thus only a decisive resurrection of the ancient spirit of Europe – can offer a different outcome to this inevitable confrontation.

“Unfortunately, neither the secularists nor the Catholics seem to be aware of the drama that is approaching. The secularists, hammering at the Church in every way possible, do not realize that they are fighting the strongest source of inspiration and the most valid defense of Western civilization and its values of rationality and freedom: perhaps they will realize it too late. ..... "
Tariq Ramadan's Two-Faced Islam. The West Is the Land of Conquest

Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list

[beethovenfan]

I think 9/11 taught me all I need to know about Islam.

[End Times Sentinel]

...he would add a valuable voice to religious understanding.

"Kill the disbelievers wherever we find them" (Koran 2:191)

 

I think I understand all I need to about islam.

Owl_Eagle

" I didn't like it when he compared our troops to Jen-jis Khan.
I don't like his stance on jun control.
And I think John Kerry is jonna jet me killed."

[Mamzelle]

Follow the money. I suspect the university wants the cash that is being offered to fund the chair--

[Gurn]

And leave it to the liberal US Conference of Catholic Bishops to go in the tank for this pagan towel head.

He must have a son they think is cute.

[ThomasMore]

Notre Dame needs to import some REAL Catholic theologians and denounce Islam as the heresy it is.

Deacon Francis

[ruready4eternity]

"And Ramadan's studies could benefit from closely observing the very different role religion plays in U.S. society than it does in Europe, he added."

Has'nt anyone figured it out yet? What is there to "learn" or "study" about Islam.? People who cant even read or write can tell you whats in the Bull$**t book.

Qur’an 9:5 “Fight and kill the disbelievers wherever you find them, take them captive, harass them, lie in wait and ambush them using every stratagem of war.”

If they believe in the quran, then this my friend is enough grounds to revoke and take the whole lot of them back to the sand pits of Bagdad or wherever they came from.

[pikachu]

I guess we should have suspected this after the sprots teams had their knickname changed from the 'Fighting Irish' to the 'Jihading Irish'.

[ruready4eternity]

Qur’an 8:39 “So fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief [non-Muslims]) and all submit to the religion of Allah alone (in the whole world).”

Ishaq:324 “He said, ‘Fight them so that there is no more rebellion, and religion, all of it, is for Allah only. Allah must have no rivals.’”

[Non-Sequitur]

Ramadan said he makes "no apologies for taking a critical look at both Islam and the West...

Looks like he'll be doing it in Switzerland.

[arkady_renko]

What was Notre Dame thinking?

Same thing they were thinking when they brought in a very militant aethist to teach philosophy in order to 'challenge' the students there. I know this because he was a friend in a past life.

A_R

[gakrak]

"Ramadan said he makes "no apologies for taking a critical look at both Islam and the West; in doing so I am being true to my faith and to the ethics of my Swiss citizenship. I believe Muslims can remain faithful to their religion and be able, from within pluralistic and democratic societies, to oppose all injustices."
BS He is another Islamic radical trying to convince us they are peaceful. NOT! Just ask the families of the two Americans the SOB's just beheaded. Send him to Abadan Iran they would love to hear from him.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Looks like a good call by Homeland Security. We have enough America haters already teaching in our universities.

[ruready4eternity]

Call in John Ashcroft.

[CaptainK]

He said he shares some Muslims' criticisms of Western governments, including "the deleterious worldwide effects of unregulated American consumerism" and finds U.S. policies in the Middle East "misguided and counterproductive."

Lives in one of the most prosperous European countries and was on his way to live the cushy life of a professor on a major US campus. More Muslim hypocrisy.

[68skylark]

Is anyone aware of high-quality blogs or other sources of news about this -- outside of the MSM?

I live just 40 miles from ND, so I have a special interest in this matter. I'm very skeptical of Islam. But on the other hand, I don't want to be harsh toward a Muslim who wants his religion to evolve into something modern and peaceful. I doubt Mr. Ramadan is one of the good guys, but I'm willing (and happy) to be wrong about that.