U.S. rejects visa for Muslim scholar

NEW YORK - The government has rejected a prominent Muslim scholar's application to enter the country, contending that he gave support to a terrorist group, but his attorneys allege the U.S. is using charitable donations he made as a pretext for stifling his views.

Tariq Ramadan, a Swiss citizen who teaches at Oxford University, was denied a temporary business and tourism visa Thursday "based solely on his actions, which constituted providing material support to a terrorist organization," said Janelle Hironimus, a State Department spokeswoman.

Hironimus said she could not reveal specifics about Ramadan's case due to confidentiality rules regarding visa applications.

The American Civil Liberties Union said the U.S. government notified Ramadan he was being excluded because he donated $765 to French and Swiss organizations that provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060925/ap_on_re_us/aclu_lawsuit

Kinda says it all doesn't it?

To be excluded from entering the US, all you have to do is give money for humanitarian aid.



He would have been better off had he donated to Terror and Torture via the GOP?


Peace

How will they define "providing support to a terrorist organization" and and use that to arrest people?