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Ramadan to sue Rotterdam over sackingWednesday 19 August 2009 Swiss Muslim philosopherTariq Ramadan is to sue Rotterdam city council over its decision to sack him as its advisor on integration issues, the academic told Radio 1 news. The council decided yesterday to end its contract with Ramadan because he presents a weekly tv programme in Iran, paid for by the Iranian government. This has undermined his credibility and lends support to the authorities there, the NRC quoted city council sources as saying. Ramadan told the radio programme he had not been told personally about his sacking and that the decision was prompted by the political climate in Rotterdam. Anti-Muslim parties are currently the most popular in the port city, which has a high immigrant population. Credibility It was totally 'unacceptable' and 'unbelievable' that he is being accused of supporting the Iranian regime, Ramadan said. The decision to sue the council is not about money but about 'honour and credibility', he said. Erasmus University, where Ramadan is a visiting professor, has also asked him to distance himself from the tv programme, Ramadan said. According to his website, Ramadan is also a profesor of Islamic studies at Oxford University and a research fellow at Doshisha University in Japan. In a commentary on Ramadan's sacking, Trouw newspaper wrote: 'In practical terms, the three-year relationship between Ramadan and Rotterdam has not been happy. He did not and does not speak a word of Dutch, and that is not useful for someone brought in to build bridges [between people] in an unknown city and to advise on integration.' Politicians from across the political spectrum have backed the sacking. 'Rotterdam must not run the risk of being connected to the... despicable Iranian regime,' left-wing green councillor Arno Bonte told news agency ANP. In April, two Liberal executives on Rotterdam city council resigned in protest at the council's support for Ramadan. The officials were angry at remarks about women and homosexuals apparently made by Ramadan several years ago and quoted by newspaper Gay Krant. A council investigation into the statements found the paper's allegations were groundless. For an open letter on Ramadan's website, click here © DutchNews.nl
It would be nice and useful if somebody, anybody, should take the trouble to let us know (with quotes, and literaly) which of Ramadan's opinions are controversial, and why, with the possibility for Ramadan to reply. By Peter Bulthuis | August 19, 2009 4:26 PM When comes to the west’s interests, when comes to the west’s imperialistic policy against toothless nations and when comes to the interest of international Zionism there is no room for free people and their ideas. This is the west’s bottom line. Mr. Ramadan has crossed this line. He is guilty because he refused to work for western propaganda machine, CNN, BBC and FOX news. He is guilty because of his show in the voice of voiceless channel or Press TV. He is guilty because of his ties with only independent country in the rigion.The only one to oppose Zionism regime and American hegemony. The only country who cries for innocent Lebanese, Palestinians, Afghanis and Iraqis murdered children and women. God bless Mr. Ramadan and Iran. By Fredabod | August 19, 2009 8:35 PM Such a predictable outcome with Ramadan using European liberal speech rights to cry foul. Scratch his surface good and there will be more surprises under the paint. Get him far from anything political in the Netherlands and wash your hands of him once and for all. By bet | August 19, 2009 10:30 PM Check out this old New York Times feature and interview with Ramadan http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/04/magazine/04ramadan.t.html?ei=5090&en=2c692197b7d2bcee&ex=1328245200&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print By Shirley | August 20, 2009 7:23 AM great feature, shirley. lets all calm down and have a dialogue based on fact. By hlm | August 21, 2009 1:07 AM
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at the end of the day if you do something that provoles society and your employer doesnt like it then you get sacked, DEAL WITH IT
By adhd | August 19, 2009 3:58 PM