JUSTICE FOR TARIQ RAMADAN / REINSTATE TARIQ RAMADAN

JUSTICE FOR TARIQ RAMADAN/
REINSTATE TARIQ RAMADAN

Tariq Ramadan, the world renowned intellectual and defender of citizenship-based values has been dismissed by Erasmus University Rotterdam, where he held the Identity and Citizenship chair, ostensibly because he hosts a panel show on the English-language news network PressTV, financed by the Iranian regime.
Mr. Ramadan has been hosting the same program for more than one year, with complete freedom. On it, he explores issues of concern to European Muslims, in an effort to bring citizens of different cultures and religions together. He has criticized the Iranian regime, particularly the abuses carried out by security forces following that countrys recent presidential election.
In fact, Mr. Ramadans program has provided his opponents with a pretext. The unhealthy political climate in the Netherlands, where elections will be held in early 2010, is being exacerbated by lies and imaginary threats wielded by an aggressive right wing.
Tariq Ramadan has declared that he will file suit against Rotterdam Municipality and Erasmus University to defend his honor and reputation. In his support, in a spirit of broad-mindedness, more than twenty of Mr. Ramadans colleagues at Erasmus University Rotterdam have denounced his dismissal as an attack on academic freedom, and on the responsibility of universities with regard to sensitive political issues.
It is the responsibility of all those concerned with academic freedom to broaden the debate on cultural diversity in Western societies. It is their duty to denounce Mr. Ramadans dismissal as abusive and politically motivated.
Thus do we, the undersigned, declare our solidarity with Tariq Ramadan, and demand his immediate reinstatement.

http://www.steuntariq.nl/
http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2009/08/university_staff_angry_at_rama.php http://www.tariqramadan.com/spip.php?article10752
http://www.tariqramadan.com/spip.php?article10756#forum39324
http://www.tariqramadan.com/spip.php?article10821
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DЙFENDRE TARIQ RAMADAN, C'EST PRЙSERVER LA LIBRE EXPRESSION ACADЙMIQUE

Tariq Ramadan, intellectuel rйputй mondialement et partisan dune йthique citoyenne commune, vient dкtre licenciй par lUniversitй Erasmus de Rotterdam oщ occupait la chaire Identitй de citoyennetй sous prйtexte quil anime une йmission tйlйvisйe diffusйe par la chaоne dinformation de langue anglaise PressTV liйe au rйgime iranien.
M. Ramadan anime pourtant lйmission en question depuis plus dun an en toute indйpendance. Il y aborde des questions touchant la situation des musulmans en Europe sous une optique de rapprochement entre citoyens de cultures et de religions diverses. Il a de plus exprimй des critiques а lйgard du rйgime, et notamment au sujet des abus commis par les forces de lordre contre les manifestants contestant les rйsultats des derniиres йlections prйsidentielles.
En rйalitй, lйmission nest quun prйtexte. Le climat politique malsain dans les Pays-Bas, actuellement en pйriode prййlectorale, se nourrit de peurs et dйpouvantails fabriquйs de toutes piиces par une extrкme droite agressive.
Tariq Ramadan a immйdiatement annoncй son intention de poursuivre la municipalitй de Rotterdam et lUniversitй Erasmus pour dйfendre son honneur et sa rйputation. Dans un geste de soutien animй par lesprit douverture, une vingtaine de collиgues de M. Ramadan а lUniversitй de Rotterdam ont dйnoncй son licenciement comme une atteinte а la libertй acadйmique ainsi quа la responsabilitй des universitaires en regard des sujets politiquement sensibles.
Il est de la responsabilitй de toute personne qui a le souci de la libertй dexpression acadйmique de favoriser le dйbat sur la diversitй culturelle dans les sociйtйs occidentales. Il est de son devoir de dйnoncer ce licenciement comme abusif et politiquement motivй.

Ainsi, nous les soussignйs, nous dйclarons solidaires de Tariq Ramadan, et exigeons que les accusations portйes contre lui soient retirйes et sa rйhabilitation dans son honneur soit dйclarйe publiquement.


http://www.steuntariq.nl/
http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2009/08/university_staff_angry_at_rama.php http://www.tariqramadan.com/spip.php?article10752
http://www.tariqramadan.com/spip.php?article10756#forum39324
Traduction franзaise : http://www.tariqramadan.com/spip.php?article10822