Groups Decry Muslim Scholar's Visa Denial

[Khephra]

INDIANAPOLIS -- Scholars and critics worldwide are demanding that the U.S. government explain why it revoked the work visa of a Muslim scholar hired at the University of Notre Dame, saying the action threatens academic freedoms.

But few answers are forthcoming from the Department of Homeland Security, which cited security concerns when it barred Tariq Ramadan from entering the country.

That silence has sparked protests from at least four U.S. scholars' groups, led a United Nations-sponsored institution to issue an academic freedom alert and inspired appeals from Jewish organizations.

Robert O'Neil, who is chairman of an academic freedom committee for the American Association of University Professors, said Ramadan's case could have a chilling effect on an academic community already facing security measures stemming from the 2001 terrorist attacks.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-muslim-scholar-visa,0,6030933.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

[lil-petunia]

1. I can only imagine Ashcroft's response

the only good Ayrab is a dead Ayrab.

[strizi64]

3. Only the name

doesn't make him an Arab. Prof. Ramadan was born in Switzerland and received Swiss Citizenship back in 1983. But obviously it's enough to have such a name for the WH in these days...

[independentpiney]

2. Sad and Shameful

Ramadans reformist view of Islam and universality of values threatens all fascists and fundamentalists.