Muslim Scholar Makes First U.S. Appearance After Ban is Lifted
(RNS) Tariq Ramadan made his first public appearance in the U.S. on Thursday, since the U.S. State Department barred entry to the controversial scholar and Islamic activist in 2004.
Ramadan’s appearance on a panel in New York on “Islam in the West” reflects recent U.S. efforts to build bridges with Muslims and ends a long odyssey for Ramadan, who teaches Islamic Studies at the University of Oxford.
Ramadan, on a five-day visit, is the grandson of Hasan Al-Banna, who founded the fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
But the Swiss-born Ramadan is popular among Muslims who appreciate his message about the compatibility of Islam and democracy. He has also criticized American policies in Iraq and Palestine, however, garnering enemies who say his moderate talk is a smokescreen for radical ambitions.
In 2004 the Bush administration revoked Ramadan’s visa and later accused him of sending money to a charity connected to terrorists.
Ramadan said the group was not on a U.S. government watch-list when he made the donation, and had no way of knowing their terrorism connection.
On Thursday, Ramadan said the ban undermined American values and that it was no longer appropriate to speak about “Muslims in the West,” but rather “Western Muslims.”“The difference is that we are not here in a host country. We are at home, and Islam is a Western religion,” Ramadan said.Ramadan will also speak Saturday in Chicago at a banquet sponsored by the Council on American Islamic Relations, and on Monday at Georgetown University.
Talk of Muslim integration was old, too, he said. “It’s time not to speak about integrating, it’s to think about contribution, what do you give to your country. This is a step forward, when you give something, people are not asking where do you come from, they want to know where we are going together.”
Back in late January, Islam loving Obama overturned a President Bush ban on Tariq Ramadan. Ramadan is a smooth talking Islamist, and he has quickly joined in on the Islamic info war. The problem with speeches like this, is that those that do not follow the subject of Islam closely fall for cons like this. Obama has helped the enemy advance, once again.
This man is one of the most dangerous arselifters alive today. He should be taken out permanently.
I wonder if there are people protesting his public appearances?
And WHY hasn't someone in the media covered this? Not even FOX news has said a peep about it. I am beginning to believe Obama has gotten to FOX too. This should be ALL over ALL media stations.
FOX has changed their tune, as they are getting.closer to the Saudis.
Doesn't some Saudi prince own a percentage of Fox?
prince alwalleed bi talal, I read were he bought 7% and bragged about having some influence on a story where the musselheads went on a terror in France. That the reason Beck, Krauthammer made the disparaging remarks about Greet Wilder. I only watch fox now to see if it has made a different and it has. Fox is not on our side anymore.Murdock sold his soul and evidential the Arabs will controll that part of the media here in U.S.. Let your imagination figure out what will happen then..
This is horrible. How can they now know who this Ramadan is. How could they sell part of Fox to a Saudi. There is NO news here in US….People have NO idea what is going on…this is terrible…we will lose our freedom if this continues.
What will they give? They will give us more Jihad and Sharia!
He's as slick as Obama.
prince alwalleed bi talal, I read were he bought 7% and bragged about having some influence on a story where the musselheads went on a terror in France. That the reason Beck, Krauthammer made the disparaging remarks about Greet Wilder. I only watch fox now to see if it has made a different and it has. Fox is not on our side anymore.Murdock sold his soul and evidential the Arabs will controll that part of the media here in U.S.. Let your imagination figure out what will happen then..
Thanks for confirming that, Mike.
I make a remark about Beck at FrontPageMag. that didn't go down too well with the crowd there (although we all seem to agree on most things).
I guess they haven't caught up to the fact that Fox is now in the control of arselifters.
Gary,I read it. It looked to me that Front Page was alittle pissed about Becks turnaround. I find Beck to be a dip shit and anyone who puts their trust in such a turn coat gets what they deserve. He's all about the money and the sooner people figure that out the sooner they will quit putting their faith in him, I guess for now he's the best we have, which ain't saying much. That's the real tragic. Sorry if I hurt anyones feeling out there about dough head Beck,,ha ha not .
There are a lot of posters there who support him, however. Guess the message isn't getting through.