It is like using a smoke screen, the same thing for an individual. The topic here is Islam. If French politicians are no longer talking about Islam, they know they will have to talk about something else, which brings the spotlight on their inefficiency. They will have to talk about domestic social and economic issues and they will have to justify their foreign policy, which is obviously something they need to avoid at all costs.
Tariq RamadanProud to be a Muslim isn't a stamp you have on your heart, it's a light you have in your heart.
Tariq RamadanThe Turkish road is not my model because I am critical of the way you are dealing with freedom of expression, of how you are dealing with the treatment of minorities, and your economic vision.
Tariq RamadanSaying that the origin of the Islamic State (IS) is within the Muslim Brotherhood organisation only strengthens IS.
Tariq RamadanFreedom of expression is not absolute. Countries have laws that define the framework for exercising this right and which, for instance, condemn racist language.
Tariq RamadanSouth Africa is labouring to find its revolutionary path; the colours of the Rainbow Nation have difficulty blending together; the wealthy elites (white, black or Indian) profit from de facto segregation.
Tariq RamadanI think many thinkers and activists, even in the Islamist parties like the Muslim Brotherhood, and the people who left the Muslim Brotherhood to follow Abou el-Fatouh, these people do have an understanding that the relationship between religion and the state must be re-thought and re-assessed. They're not going to use the concept of secularism in any straightforward way, because the concept of secularism is still far too loaded in that part of the world.
Tariq Ramadan