Integration consultant Tariq Ramadan is taking legal action against Rotterdam council as he feels he has been treated disrespectfully. He refuses to accept his dismissal. Fellow Islamologist Martin van Bruinessen agrees.

Dr Ramadan has also lost his position as professor of identity and citizenship at Rotterdam’s Erasmus University. The reason for his dismissal is because he presents a programme for the Iranian state television station Press TV. Rotterdam council says Mr Ramadan has lost his credibility.
  
 
Professor van Bruinessen thinks Rotterdam should not get so nervous about the Islamologist’s sideline.

 
"I believe he was actually chosen because of his links with all kinds of organisations both in the Muslim community in Europe and in the Islamic world."

Listen to Professor Martijn Van Bruinessen talking to Newsline's Paul Anstiss:

Misogynist and anti-gay
Although, Professor van Bruinessen does not think it is helpful that his fellow Islamologist holds controversial misogynist and anti-gay opinions - which led to commotion earlier this year. However, on the other hand, “They are not much different to the opinions of Christian fundamentalists." But it is his dismissal from the Erasmus University that upsets Professor van Bruinessen the most; after all academic freedom is a matter of principle.

 
Rotterdam's Green Left alderman for participation, culture and the environment, Rik Grashof, defends the council’s decision.

 
"...the council finds that in deciding to work with Press TV, Professor Ramadan has failed to take sufficient account of the sentiments that this might evoke in Rotterdam and beyond. This is made worse by the fact that he continued to work there after the elections in Iran when the authorities very seriously clamped down on freedom of speech..."

 
No consultation
In response by telephone, Dr Ramadan says he does not understand the sudden dismissal and the fact that there was no consultation in advance by either the council or university.

 
"I was involved in a project about dialogue and citizenship and they are taking a decision without listening to me and talking to me. I got a call from a journalist this morning telling me that the decision has been taken and than that I am fired! Nothing coming from the municipality and nothing from the university.."

 
He puts the decision down to the current political climate in the Netherlands and Geert Wilders' popularity.

 
Editorial freedom
Dr Ramadan does not intend to apologise for his work at Press TV. He does not support the current Iranian government, and says he has full editorial freedom. He believes change in Iran should come from within, for example through television. He also says he has been completely open about his television sideline. It is even mentioned on the homepage of his personal website.

"The point is for me, I'm not going to come back. I'm not going to come back with this municipality. What I want is to stick to the terms of the contract, and then I want them to acknowledge the fact that there is a question of dignity and they didn't respect me in the way they were dealing with me. It's a question of respect."

 
And Professor van Bruinessen agrees: "Dismissal without consultation? That is not the way to treat someone."