Something new in Holland

From Expatica.com
19/08/2009
Dutch city sacks controversial Muslim adviser
A Swiss citizen of Egyptian origin, Ramadan is considered one of Europe's leading Muslim thinkers.
The Hague -- The Dutch city of Rotterdam said Tuesday that Muslim intellectual Tariq Ramadan would no longer serve as an adviser for hosting a programme on a television channel it claims is backed by Tehran.
Rotterdam's Erasmus University has simultaneously dropped him as a guest lecturer on citizenship and identity, said a joint media statement.
"The reason is Tariq Ramadan's involvement with the Iranian television channel Press TV, which is incompatible with his functions.," Ramadan has been an advisor to the mayor of Rotterdam on issues of multi-culturalism since 2007.
"Press TV is a channel that is financed by the Iranian government," said the statement. "We find (his) indirect relationship with this repressive regime, or even the appearance of such, to be unacceptable."

Ramadan said he would take the council to court.
"I am going to sue the municipality. It is a question of honour and dignity," he told public broadcaster NOS.
Ramadan said he took offence to being labelled a supporter of the Iranian government.
"To put me in a position where I am supporting the regime is just unacceptable," he said, adding that his television programme was of a "religious, philosophical" nature.
The dismissal was "more about the political climate in the Netherlands than anything else ," said Ramadan -- referring to the rise of far-right parties in Rotterdam and elsewhere.
A Swiss citizen of Egyptian origin, Ramadan is considered one of Europe's leading Muslim thinkers.
He is known for promoting a modernised form of Islam and for his opposition to the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.
Ramadan, whose grandfather was a founder of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, has been barred from entering US territory since 2004.
AFP / Expatica


But they like Ramadan in England
http://www.expatica.com/nl/news/local_news/Oxford-won_t-fire-Rotterdam_s-rejected-advisor_55635.html

Oxford won't fire Rotterdam's rejected advisor
Oxford University says it sees no reason to break off ties with Islamologist Tariq Ramadan, who was fired earlier this week as a community advisor by the city of Rotterdam.
Related ArticlesControversial Muslim advisor under fire for Iran TV job
Rotterdam retains services of Muslim advisorRotterdam - The city government said his work as a presenter of a state-sponsored programme on Iranian television was incompatible with his duties in Rotterdam.

Tariq Ramadan is a professor of Contemporary Islam Studies at Oxford, a post which he has held for the past four years.

The British university said in a statement that freedom of expression is a fundamental right. Yet the university adds that it disagrees with Ramadan's views.

The Swiss-Egyptian islamologist also lost his job as a visiting professor at Rotterdam's Erasmus University.
Ramadan is furious about his dismissal from his jobs in Rotterdam and is taking the city to court. In his view, the decisions were politically motivated and inspired by the current wave of anti-Islamic sentiments in the Netherlands.
Radio Netherlands / Expatica

That is the same England that banned Michael Savage from entering UK.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/05/michael-savage-banned-fro_n_196631.html
LONDON — Britain on Tuesday published its first list of people barred from entering the country for allegedly fostering extremism or hatred, including Muslim extremists, a right-wing American radio host, an Israeli settler and jailed Russian gang members.
The U.K.'s law and order chief, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, said she decided to publish the names of 16 of 22 people who have been banned by the government since October so others could better understand what sort of behavior Britain was not prepared to tolerate.