The French Exception, or, how to put Cabinet Ministers to flight

On May 9 a high-level meeting held in Florence scrutinized the “state of the European union.” Government ministers, commissioners and prominent political figures took part in a series of open discussions. Two days before the meeting two French cabinet ministers withdrew because I was to be present. Under no circumstances could they confer legitimacy on my dangerous and “retrograde” views. Many of those present were bemused: why was France so (...)
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Dangerous emotions, liberating spirituality

Our emotions are often beautiful, but they can also be dangerous. They represent our spontaneity, and seem to speak to us of our freedom. And yet all contemporary studies — from neurology and psychology to marketing — prove that our emotions are the form of self-expression over which we have least control, that they are highly vulnerable and, basically, easily manipulated. Advertising, music, atmospheres, subliminal messages and films can have an impact on (...)
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Defimedia: “We must not use culture to the detriment of religion”

Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan is in Mauritius since Thursday. He met the press, co-hosted debates and dialogues with all communities. Mauritius and Morocco are both his adopted countries and he says he finds here a vivid example of a multi-ethnic country, which unabashedly addresses the issue of interculturality. The following is an extract of an interview he gave to le Défi Media Group. You refuse identity confinements... I play a variety of identities around my (...)
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The need for an Arab Cultural Revolution

Culture constitutes an essential element of human life. As people have risen up across the Middle East and North Africa, the diversity of their cultures is not only the means but also the ultimate goal of their liberation and their freedom. Though imperialism was primarily political and economic, it was also cultural; it imposed ways of life, habits, perceptions and values that rarely respected the societies under its domination, that seized control of minds — a (...)
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Contemporary Islamic Conscience in Crisis

From Asia to North America, by way of the Middle East, Africa and Europe, the conclusion is inescapable: The contemporary Islamic conscience is in deep crisis. How to be a Muslim today? How to be faithful to one’s principles while remaining open to the world? How can Muslims deal with their diversity and overcome their multiple divisions? Can Muslim majority societies create new models of development, education and social justice; can they imagine economic (...)
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Tariq Ramadan

The French Exception, or, how to put Cabinet Ministers to flight
ARTICLES - 21 May 2013
On May 9 a high-level meeting held in Florence scrutinized the “state of the European union.” Government ministers, commissioners and prominent political figures took part in a series of open discussions. Two days before the meeting two French cabinet ministers withdrew because I was to be present. Under no circumstances could they confer legitimacy on my dangerous and (...)
read more
Dangerous emotions, liberating spirituality
ARTICLES - 7 May 2013
Our emotions are often beautiful, but they can also be dangerous. They represent our spontaneity, and seem to speak to us of our freedom. And yet all contemporary studies — from neurology and psychology to marketing — prove that our emotions are the form of self-expression over which we have least control, that they are highly vulnerable and, basically, easily manipulated. (...)
read more
Defimedia: “We must not use culture to the detriment of religion”
NEWS (Other languages) - 23 April 2013
Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan is in Mauritius since Thursday. He met the press, co-hosted debates and dialogues with all communities. Mauritius and Morocco are both his adopted countries and he says he finds here a vivid example of a multi-ethnic country, which unabashedly addresses the issue of interculturality. The following is an extract of an interview he gave to le Défi Media Group. (...)
read more
The need for an Arab Cultural Revolution
ARTICLES - 16 April 2013
Culture constitutes an essential element of human life. As people have risen up across the Middle East and North Africa, the diversity of their cultures is not only the means but also the ultimate goal of their liberation and their freedom. Though imperialism was primarily political and economic, it was also cultural; it imposed ways of life, habits, perceptions and values that rarely (...)
read more
Contemporary Islamic Conscience in Crisis
ARTICLES - 2 April 2013
From Asia to North America, by way of the Middle East, Africa and Europe, the conclusion is inescapable: The contemporary Islamic conscience is in deep crisis. How to be a Muslim today? How to be faithful to one’s principles while remaining open to the world? How can Muslims deal with their diversity and overcome their multiple divisions? Can Muslim majority societies create new models (...)
read more
A big thank you!
ARTICLES - 21 March 2013
Following the second decision of the Court of The Hague - which granted me a successful outcome in the case against the Municipality of Rotterdam (and which thereby closes proceedings against both the University and the City) - I would like to warmly thank everyone, all those who intellectually, spiritually and financially supported me in this commitment to justice. These two court decisions (...)
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Hartelijk dank !
NEWS (Other languages) - 20 March 2013
Naar aanleiding van het tweede besluit van het Hof van Den Haag krijg ik gelijk in de zaak tegen de gemeente Rotterdam (deze sluit een procedure tegen zowel de universiteit als tegen de stad). Ik wil daarom van harte iedereen die mij intellectueel, spiritueel en financieel ondersteund heeft bedanken in mijn zoektocht naar rechtvaardigheid. Deze twee rechterlijke uitspraken beklemtonen twee (...)
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Professor Tariq Ramadan wins his lawsuit against the City of Rotterdam
ARTICLES - 19 March 2013
The Hague Court has contradicted the previous Rotterdam Court, and recognized the legitimacy of Professor Tariq Ramadan’s lawsuit regarding the way his contract with the City was broken. The Hague Court considered that the City of Rotterdam did not respect the terms of the contract with Professor Tariq Ramadan by terminating his employment abruptly nor did they respect all his person (...)
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A curious historical shift
ARTICLES - 19 March 2013
It all began ten years ago with cynicism and falsehood. US president George W. Bush dispatched his secretary of state Colin Powell to lie to the United Nations and to the world at large. Former ally Saddam Hussain possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and enjoyed close relations with the Al Qaida network established in Iraq, he claimed. Intervention could not wait. Against the counsels (...)
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The role of religion before and after the Arab uprisings 22/02/2013
NEWS (Other languages) - 11 March 2013
There are two schools of thought about the Arab uprisings, and both are inappropriate, mistaken and ultimately will prove to be counter-productive. The first is that the social, political, economic and cultural influence of Islam in Arab societies can only be understood through the prism of Islamist organisations. The largely Muslim protestors who have been the driving force behind the Arab (...)
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