The State Department, after consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, has revoked the visa of a Muslim scholar with possible links to terrorist organizations, including al Qaeda:

Russ Knocke, a Department of Homeland Security spokesman, told Reuters on Tuesday, that the work visa was taken back because of a section in federal law applying to aliens who have used a “position of prominence within any country to endorse or espouse terrorist activity.”

He said the revocation was based on “public safety or national security interests”.

Islamic groups, naturally, are whining about the visa revocation. Islam Online reports:

[The] Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said the DHS decision to revoke a visa previously granted to Tariq Ramadan sends the wrong message to the Islamic world about America’s willingness to listen to what Muslims have to say.

No. It sends the right message: Coming to America is a privilege, not a right. Nobody has an entitlement to get a visa to come here and peddle Islamofascist dogma. It’s about time we pulled out the welcome mat.

CAIR continues:

“The best way to improve deteriorating relations with the Muslim world is by listening to mainstream Islamic political and religious voices, not by censoring respected scholars whose views are apparently feared by those who seek a monopoly on intellectual debate,” said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad.

“Mainstream?” John Little at Blogs of War has done some digging into Ramadan’s teachings here and discovers the name of one of Ramadan’s courses: “A Faith to Die For.”

Meanwhile, Robert Cox at The National Debate reports that White House National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice is being pressured to intervene in the Ramadan case.

Hang tough, Dr. Rice. The world is watching.

comments (0)   trackbacks (5)