Petition in Defense of Academic Freedom: Reinstate Dr. Tariq Ramadan's Visa

To:  Department of Homeland Security, Department of State & Members of Congress

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

In February 2004, the renowned Muslim scholar Tariq Ramadan was appointed Henry B. Luce Professor of Religion, Conflict and Peacebuilding at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame. After receiving a visa of residence and work (H1) on May 5, 2004, Professor Ramadan’s visa was revoked in July, the month he was to start his tenure. Until now, the US Department of Homeland Security has provided no explanation for the revocation of his visa.

The arbitrary decision to revoke Professor Ramadan's visa sets a dangerous precedent on the restriction of academic freedom and tolerance by government authorities, which threatens to rollback the greatest achievements that hallmark our nation’s history. We stand by the principles of the Constitution and denounce any measures that infringe upon the rights of academics or students to exercise their constitutional freedoms. During times in which academia has been dangerously politicized, we maintain the right of institutions of higher learning to fulfill their responsibility as guardians of academic freedom, intellectual tolerance and diversity of thought.

In making this decision, the US administration has not only targeted the wrong individual in the name of its 'war against terrorism,’ but it has also narrowed the discourse on the new challenges facing Islam and the West that is so vital to enhancing our national security and national interests. This action has also silenced the voice of a scholar who has a long and proud record of denouncing extremism, narrow literalism and anti-Semitism within Muslim communities and societies. Furthermore, this decision has reinforced American Muslims’ concerns for the use of religious profiling and the dominance of an exclusive ideology at high levels of government.

We, the undersigned, condemn the decision to revoke the visa of Professor Tariq Ramadan as a grave breach of academic freedom. We demand that his visa be reinstated and that Professor Ramadan be given the opportunity to fulfill his academic duties and contribute to the intellectual discourse of our democracy.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Petition in Defense of Academic Freedom: Reinstate Dr. Tariq Ramadan's Visa Petition to Department of Homeland Security, Department of State & Members of Congress was created by MSA National and written by Jordan A. Robinson (patfchair@msa-national.org).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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