Home / Quotes / Quote by Tariq Ramadan

Quote by Tariq Ramadan

“Just take Germany and the suffering of Jews during and after the Second World War. It would be legal to ridicule and to laugh at this suffering, but since it was such a trauma on the European conscience, no one is going to do it. It is an open scar, an open wound, an open reality.”

Author

Tariq Ramadan

Tariq Ramadan is an Egyptian-born Swiss Islamic philosopher, writer, and academic. He is recognized for his contributions to contemporary Islamic thought and his advocacy for an Islamic reformation. Ramadan was born on August 26, 1962. more

“The collective psychology is something very close to being sacred - we can do it but we don't do it. We should understand that the Holocaust in the European conscience is reaching a point which is very close to what is sacred for people in the Southern countries, whether they are Muslims or not. Because of that we need to try to have intellectual empathy.”

People Needs Should Trying Country Can Do Psychology Intellectual Empathy Conscience Sacred Reaching Collectives Southern Holocaust

Author:Tariq Ramadan

“I keep on repeating something told to me by an American psychologist: "When you are making a joke about someone and you are the only one to laugh, it is not a joke. It is a joke only for yourself." If people are making a joke they have the right to laugh at me but I will ignore them. Ignoring doesn't mean that you don't understand. You understand it so much that you don't want to react.”

People Ifs Want Mean Laughing Jokes Psychologist

Author:Tariq Ramadan

“I am talking about anything that is a provocation - ignore it. When something falls under freedom of expression, you can read it and take a critical distance.”

Fall Talking Expression Distance Critical Freedom Of Expression Provocation

Author:Tariq Ramadan

“I opposed the Fatwa against Salman Rushdie. I read the book and took a critical distance. I did not think The Satanic Verses is a blasphemous book. I did not consider the book as being a great read, but as an intellectual I read, I assess, and I respond. I make a difference between true freedom of expression to which we owe a response and provocation, which we ignore.”