Rotterdam Court’s Decision – 08 11 2012

Rotterdam Court has just returned its decision in the lawsuit filed by Tariq Ramadan against Erasmus University Rotterdam after he was dismissed from his job as guest professor in August 2009.

The Court has ruled in favor of the plaintiff and found that the University contravened the Professor’s rights. Consequently, Erasmus University must not only pay the costs of legal proceedings but also indemnify him for the damage sustained.

This victory against Erasmus University is a clear recognition that the dismissal was unfair and wrongful. We are now expecting the second judgment in a similar lawsuit against the City of Rotterdam which had taken a similar hasty and unfair decision against Tariq Ramadan.

The legitimate rights of Professor Tariq Ramadan, who teaches at the University of Oxford, have once again been recognized. After his ban from entering the United States was lifted – and considered groundless by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton herself – Rotterdam Court now acknowledges that Erasmus University acted against the rights of Professor Tariq Ramadan, whom they had earlier invited.

Tariq Ramadan hails this decision and thanks all those who supported him throughout the lengthy proceedings.