The case of Tariq Ramadan…again

Yes, I thought about writing a piece, again, about Tariq Ramadan and his dismissal from Erasmus University of Rotterdam. But I’m not going to do it. I had to read the reports about the case after my holidays and I finally finished reading most articles and several blogitems. Most of it makes me too tired to write anything sensible about the topic so I will be silent.

If you want to read more about the case I refer you to the English pages of the Dutch newspaper NRC-Handelsblad:
Recent news
nrc.nl – International – Ramadan criticised over Iran connection

Ramadan criticised over Iran connection
Published: 13 August 2009 15:14 | Changed: 13 August 2009 16:47
By our news staff
Opposition members in the Rotterdam city council are once again calling for the resignation of integration consultant Tariq Ramadan, this time because he is hosting a talk show on an Iranian TV station.

nrc.nl – International – Rotterdam fires Tariq Ramadan over Iranian TV show

Rotterdam fires Tariq Ramadan over Iranian TV show
Published: 18 August 2009 14:19 | Changed: 19 August 2009 15:28
By Mark Hoogstad
The Rotterdam city government wants to break ties with the Muslim philosopher Tariq Ramadan, sources at city hall say.

nrc.nl – International – Ramadan: A bridge too far?

Ramadan: A bridge too far?
Published: 19 August 2009 14:49 | Changed: 20 August 2009 17:21
It is easy to see Tariq Ramadan’s connection to an Iranian TV station as a convenient excuse for his dismissal, but there has always been doubt about Ramadan’s suitability as a “builder of bridges”.

Opinion and rejoinder
nrc.nl – International – Don’t I get a chance to defend myself, Ramadan asks

Don’t I get a chance to defend myself, Ramadan asks
Published: 19 August 2009 14:44 | Changed: 20 August 2009 15:11
Tariq Ramadan, the Swiss philosopher and theologists, plans to fight his dismissal as an adviser and a professor in court. In an interview with NRC Handelsblad, he talks about his anger and his involvement with a government-funded Iranian TV channel that was the cause for the latest controversy in Rotterdam.

nrc.nl – International – Opinion – Rotterdam should get rid of this Islamist

Rotterdam should get rid of this Islamist
Published: 17 August 2009 10:45 | Changed: 18 August 2009 16:45
Anyone who, like Tariq Ramadan, works voluntarily for an immoral and extremely violent regime like that in Iran cannot be a ‘builder of bridges’ in the Netherlands.

nrc.nl – International – Opinion – Tariq Ramadan answers his Dutch detractors

Tariq Ramadan answers his Dutch detractors
Published: 18 August 2009 12:25 | Changed: 26 August 2009 10:56
Tariq Ramadan has once again come under fire in Rotterdam, where he is an adviser on integration. Ramadan says he is not surprised that it is only in the Netherlands that his collaboration with Iranian state TV has been criticised. “The controversy says far more about the alarming state of politics than about my person.”

nrc.nl – International – Ramadan wants to take Rotterdam to court

Ramadan wants to take Rotterdam to court
Published: 19 August 2009 11:47 | Changed: 19 August 2009 17:27
By Mark Hoogstad
Tariq Ramadan is furious about the way he has been cast aside by the Rotterdam city government. The Islamic scholar was fired from his job as integration adviser on Tuesday because of a talk show he hosts on Iranian state TV.

Older news
nrc.nl – International – Features – Controversy follows Tariq Ramadan to Rotterdam

Controversy follows Tariq Ramadan to Rotterdam
Published: 8 April 2009 17:09 | Changed: 18 August 2009 13:50
Controversy seems to follow Tariq Ramadan wherever he goes. In Rotterdam, where the Swiss philosopher and theologist has been asked to contribute to the multicultural dialogue, the gay community is up in arms over Ramadan’s statements about homosexuality and the role of women in society.

Closer
C L O S E R » Blog Archive » Tariq Ramadan controversy: Moulding Muslim leaders

In fact it appears now that the frequent attacks on him are more dangerous for his position as a consultant than his statements. In particular because he is not only under attack from Dutch secularists and anti-islamists but also from radical groups who oppose his cooperation with Dutch authorities and his statements about homosexuality and his call for a moratorium on corporate punishment. According to these critics Ramadan sells himself to the Dutch authorities which inevitable means that he will have to adjust (in their view dilute) the Islamic message. Their interpretation seems to be correct due to this controversy.

Worthwile reading is an older entry on The Immanent Frame about the reversal of a lower court ruling allowing the US government from entering the country.
The Immanent Frame » Reversal in the case of Tariq Ramadan

In light of the new developments in the case, we asked: what are the potential implications of the Ramadan case for both academic freedom and public discussions of Islam in the United States?

Our panelists:

Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na’im, Professor of Law, Emory University School of Law

Mohammed Bamyeh, Professor of Sociology, University of Pittsburgh

Richard W. Bulliet, Professor of History, Columbia University

Craig Calhoun, President of the Social Science Research Council, University Professor of the Social Sciences at New York University and Director of its Institute for Public Knowledge

John L. Esposito, University Professor of Religion and International Affairs, Professor of Islamic Studies and Founding Director of the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at the Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University

Mark Juergensmeyer, Director of the Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies at University of California, Santa Barbara, and President of the American Academy of Religion

Arvind Rajagopal, Associate Professor of Culture and Communication, New York University