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Hamas Sponsor Banned from U.S.

The United States rejected the visa application for a prominent Muslim scholar because he allegedly supported a terrorist group. However, attorneys for Tariq Ramadan said the government is using his charitable donations as an excuse for suppressing his ideas. Ramadan is a Swiss citizen who teaches at Oxford University. Ramadan has expressed his opposition to the U.S. occupation of Iraq and U.S. policies toward Israel and the Palestinians. He insists that he has no ties to terrorism, and opposes Islamic fundmentalism.

Janelle Hironimus, a State Department spokeswoman, told The Associated Press he was denied a visa "based solely on his actions, which constituted providing material support to a terrorist organization." She said she could not discuss specifics about his case, citing confidentiality rules for visa applications.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, Ramadan was told he was being denied a temporary business and tourism visa because he donated $765 to French and Swiss groups that provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians. The ACLU argues that the organizations are legitimate charities in France. The ACLU said banning Ramadan is censorship. However, the Bush administration said the groups provided funds to the Islamic militant group Hamas.