U. of Notre Dame seeks Muslim scholar

SOUTH BEND, Ind., Aug. 24 (UPI) -- The University of Notre Dame is asking U.S. authorities not to bar a Muslim scholar from its faculty despite protests from Jewish groups.

The Roman Catholic university in South Bend, Ind., has learned the Department of Homeland Security revoked a visa it granted to Tariq Ramadan, a renowned Islamic scholar from Switzerland, the Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday.

Ramadan, who is regarded by Islamic scholars and experts as a Muslim moderate, was appointed to teach Islamic philosophy and ethics at Notre Dame through the Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies.

Notre Dame is seeking to have Ramadan's visa reinstated.

A former top U.S. spy lays the blame for Ramadan's troubles on Israeli supporters.

"The essence of the problem is that pro-Likud organizations want to block people who can speak articulately and present the Muslim dilemma in a way that might be understandable and sympathetic to Americans," said Graham Fuller, former vice chairman of the National Intelligence Council at the Central Intelligence Agency. The Likud is Israel's ruling party.

Ramadan's real problem may be his family: In 1928 his grandfather founded the Muslim Brotherhood, a conservative group that spawned many of today's terror groups.