Free Tariq Ramadan
would thus appear to have unethically colluded with Fourest and “Christelle” (the accuser) against Ramadan nine years ago. Debacq who now serves in France’s Court of Cassation did not disclose his previous involvement either with “Christelle” or the current case, which is illegal according to French law.
The Paris incident which allegedly took place in April 2012 further undermines the veracity of the claims made by Tariq’s accusers. In this incident, the accuser, one Hendra Ayari, “sent Ramadan no fewer than 280 messages via Facebook between June and August 2014”, more than two years after the alleged rape. It has been disclosed that “Ayari recently admitted to French media that she did send these messages through a problem faced by the Rohingyas. That may not be all that is necessary, but it is a significant step, when most countries have stopped at casting blame and accusations.
Though Vietnam is some distance from its own borders, India’s relationship with it is a robust and long-standing one. Credit lines have been extended to boost Vietnam’s maritime capabilities. India also participates in Vietnam’s oil and gas ventures.
From the Asean side, Singapore has long been pro active, happily courting and investing in India when others were less eager.
Malaysia, after years of holding India in disregard, has changed its posture in more recent years. In part, this is a reflection of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s cognisance of the global role that India will play in the next decade or two.
It is not clear how Malaysia hopes to engage more deeply with India. Trade and second Facebook account she had created – after Ramadan had blocked her first account because she was harassing him – in the hope that she could seduce and entrap him. These recent revelations may be the reason why Ayari did not appear when French police summoned her last week.”
Though allegations from both women appear so utterly baseless, the prosecution continues to detain Tariq with the aim of dragging him to court. The mainstream French media has been complicit in this. Not only does it present ludicrous allegations as facts, it has even gone further and repeated lies about Tariq designed to discredit him. For instance, several media outlets had reported that “Prof Ramadan has an Egyptian passport, which he might attempt to use in investment have been progressing slowly but surely. India today happens to be one of Malaysia’s top 10 trade partners though not a very substantial one. It is the top importer of Malaysia’s palm oil, a very important export product.
Malaysia’s focus seems to be on providing construction services to India, with regard for the position that India will take on the global economic stage in the next 10 or 20 years. Most experts expect India to be one of the top three economic superpowers in the world at that time.
Further tests of how far India will go are yet to be seen.
For instance, how will India handle the South China Sea issue? It would not want to aggravate China. Yet, it has to take into account the sensitivities of some Asean member states who have revised their perceptions of China and others who have not. All the while not sacrificing its interest in order to flee to Egypt”. Ramadan does not have an Egyptian passport, and is a citizen of Switzerland only.
The French media’s smearing of Tariq Ramadan and the legal system’s skewed attitude reflect a larger problem.
Dominant French society does not take kindly to those who have the courage to criticise its bias against Islam and its followers. This is what Tariq has been doing for a long while. He has been forthright about of how French state and society have discriminated against Muslims.
Islamophobia in Europe as a whole and the increasing marginalisation of the poor and powerless in the continent have also been abiding concerns of the man.
Tariq has also been vocal about the dogmatism of ultra-conservative Muslims and the authoritarianism of Muslim regimes.
In other words, there are different groups that would want to nail Tariq Ramadan to the wall.
This is why his persecution in France is not just about antagonism towards Islam and Muslims and the determined drive to stifle rational voices that seek to expose French prejudice and bigotry.
It also reveals the hypocrisy that surrounds the noble French and European ideal of the right to dissent, especially when it comes to certain fundamental issues. Or, is Tariq’s ordeal also obliquely related to Muslim authoritarianism and its ability to reach far beyond its own shores?
Given all these forces at work, how can we expect a fair and just trial for Tariq? Hence the demand of the Free Tariq Ramadan Campaign and other civil society groups and individuals for his immediate and unconditional release. contributing to the stability of the area.
To take another instance. How will India respond to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership? Will it soften its stance and face criticism within its own shores for opening up the Indian market too much? Or will it champion free trade and win the minds of Asean member states? Although Modi himself may be a keen proponent of free trade, the socialist legacy is hard to dismantle and most Indians would fear opening up.
The show over, bothersome details and compromises will have to follow.
Who said swivelling to Asean was going to be easy?
Dr Shankaran Nambiar is a senior research fellow at the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research. He is author of the book Malaysia in Troubled Times. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com