Some reflections around an article published in the Evening Standard on
the 18th of July
Tuesday 19 July 2005, by Tariq RAMADAN
In less than 10 very very short lines, presenting me among "the extremists
urging violence for Islam" the Evening Standard's journalist made no less
than 5 mistakes as to the information conveyed :
[1] "Egyptian-born academic": I am a Swiss-born citizen
[2] "44 [years old]" : I am 42...
[3] "Has justified suicide bombings": I never did... read the Press
release below [responding to the Italian newspaper Panorama referred to
by the SUN, The Times and the Evening Standard...]
[4] "Banned from US": It is wrong. I have been asked to reapply and the
Department of Homeland Security and the State Department are waiting for
me to ask for a visiting visa...
5. According to the Evening Standard, I said "In Palestine, Chechnya there
is oppression. It is legitimate for Muslims to resist fascism": Even with
all the distortions made by the journalist in Panorama, here is the exact
complete quotation in Italian : "In Palestina, in Iraq e in Cecenia c’è
una situazione di oppressione, repressione, dittatura. È legittimo per i
musulmani resistere al fascismo che uccide innocenti. Ma l’assassinio o
il sequestro di civili sono mezzi illegittimi di una resistenza
legittima". Translation: "In Palestine, Iraq, Chechnya, there is a
situation of oppression, repression and dictatorship. It is legitimate
for Muslims to resist fascism that kills innocent people. But the
assassination and the kidnapping of civilians are illegitimate means of a
legitimate resistance". The quotation has been cut... exactly at the right
place... in order to mislead the reader as to the meaning of my answer...
What kind of journalism is that? Is there any kind of professional ethics
out there? 10 lines [of three to four words each] and 5 mistakes to make
a Muslim appear as "an extremist" and asking the British Government to
ban him... This kind of journalism spreading lies and fears is
undermining our common future. No more, no less.
No comment...
______________________________
Here is the Press release issued after the Panorama’s article, last
September
PRESS RELEASE
Tariq Ramadan
Geneva 11th September 2004
An unacceptable distortion of my statements
The newspaper Panorama, in its September 10th edition, attributed to me
appalling statements that l never made and which basically mean that "the
killing of children is understandable." These distortions and mistruths
regarding my statements are scandalous. And even more so as they have
been repeated and perpetuated without any reserve by the newspapers
Libero and the Corriere della Serra in their September 11th , 2004
edition.
I had the opportunity today on the channel Rai News 24 to affirm clearly
what has always been my position : Nothing can justify the killing of
children and innocent people as it is directly in contradiction with the
teachings of Islam.
I have condemned the hostage taking in Ossetia and those everywhere else
as well as the taking of innocent lives in the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict. My condemnation has always been unequivocal, whether it be in
English, French or Arabic.
I have unambiguously stated that resistance by an oppressed people is
legitimate as in the cases of Chechnya and Palestine. What is not
justifiable is the illegitimate means which are being used. Despite the
fact that the context (oppression, torture, poverty and the total loss of
hope) can perhaps explain why women and men want to inflict death on
themselves and others, it does not justify these actions.
l have for a long time given my support to determined but non-violent
resistance when the cause is just. Also, in my article which appeared
today in the Al Corriere della Serra, 1 reaffirmed my condemnation of
terrorism, hostage taking and murder.
To let it be said that I would support or would justify the murder of
innocent people is deceitful. I affirm the contrary. Journalistic
practices such are these inherently perpetuate suspicion, misinformation
and dangerous misunderstandings. It is not in this way that journalists
will enable us to build a future of peace.
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