In less than 14 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 milead the reader as to the meaning of my answer…
Which kind of journalism is that? Is there any kind of professional ethics out there? 14 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 more comment…indeed
Here is the Press release issued after the Panorama 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.
1 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 to1al loss of hope) can perhaps explain why women and men want to inflict death on themselves and others, if 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 l would support or would justify the murder of innocent people is deceitful. 1 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.
