Tariq Ramadan, the Swiss-born Islamic scholar, and grandson of the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood (Hassan al-Banna) in Egypt, is back in the news in France. Fresh off his acquittal of rape charges in Geneva and still facing rape charges in France, Ramadan has aroused the anger of the city of Nice after he announced he would hold a meet and greet luncheon with some 50 of his followers in a restaurant in that city.
The below article from today's Le Figaro is translated by Fousesquawk.
Nice: Municipal decree filed to ban a "literary lunch" with Tariq Ramadan
By Le Figaro
Posted 55 minutes ago
Caption: Tariq Ramadan was acquitted on May 24 by a Geneva court of the charges of rape and sexual coercion.
On the eve of the event scheduled for Sunday, the attorneys of the Islamic scholar, accused of rape, filed a petition against the decision of Mayor Christian Estrosi.
On Friday, the city of Nice issued a municipal ban against the "literary lunch" organized by Tariq Ramadan on June 4 (based on) disturbing public order, reports Liberation. The Islamic scholar, acquitted by a Geneva court on May 24 on charges of rape and sexual coercion, had announced on his Facebook account that he wanted to invite his followers to lunch at a restaurant in the Maritime Alps city.
This meeting, where some 50 guests were expected, has notably aroused the reaction of the Maritime Alps antenna of the feminist association, "Nous Toutes" (All of us). One of the officials stated that a demonstration might be held against the holding of this event organized by the theologian, who remains under the threat of a trial for similar acts in France.
On BFMTV, the mayor of the city, Christian Estrosi, had announced on May 26 his intention to prevent the meeting from taking place. "Our city is not one that accept those who have to answer for violence against women, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, and racism," he had stated. On Monday, however, Tariq Ramadan, a guest of the same channel, stated that he intended to hold his event on June 4. " If Mr. Estrosi decides that the city of Nice belongs to him and that he is the guardian of the dungeon, then he is free to do so, but freedom of expression is stronger than his decision," he retorted.
Tariq Ramadan's lawyers, for their part, have filed a petition with the administrative tribunal in which a hearing was scheduled for Saturday.
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