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This is an archive article published on December 15, 2004

Visa withheld, Islamic scholar resigns US post

A prominent Swiss-based Islamic scholar on Tuesday gave up plans to teach at a leading US university after waiting in vain for a visa and ac...

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A prominent Swiss-based Islamic scholar on Tuesday gave up plans to teach at a leading US university after waiting in vain for a visa and accused the Bush administration of trying to silence him.

Tariq Ramadan, an intellectual influential among Muslims throughout Europe, said he had sent a letter of resignation this week to University of Notre Dame in Indiana, where he had been due to take up a tenured post as professor of religion.

Ramadan was issued a US visa last May, but it was revoked in August 8212;8212; days before he was to move to the US 8212;8212; after the Department of Homeland Security changed its position.

Notre Dame, a Catholic university, said then it was 8216;8216;deeply disappointed and concerned8217;8217;, but was optimistic the issue would be resolved and Ramadan would be allowed to take up his post.

The visa withdrawal triggered protests in intellectual circles,and Ramadan said the US authorities had encouraged him to re-apply. He had heard nothing since being interviewed in October at the US embassy in Berne.

 

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