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MARYAM RAMADAN: « MY FATHER IS BEING TREATED AS IF HE WERE ALREADY CONVICTED »

Maryam Ramadan usually lives in Qatar. But since her father was placed in custody, the Muslim theologian’s eldest daughter has settled in the Paris region "to be close to him," she told Liberation who met her last week, and to support her mother, Iman. Three times a week, she goes with her to Fresnes prison where Tariq Ramadan is incarcerated. Feminist and mipsterz (combination of muslim and hipster), she is very invested in the support campaign for her father on social media. Maryam Ramadan is also very virulent against the press that is not playing "fair". "There has been a media lynching campaign against my father," she says.

- You and Tariq Ramadan’s supporters have strongly criticized the French justice: is it, according to you, Islamophobic?

I will not go as far as to say that but yes, it certainly has prejudices. I have many questions about how my father's case is being handled. The judicial police’s investigation was only conducted against my father and the judges did not retain the exculpatory material which appeared very clearly. He was considered guilty from the beginning. In addition to this, accesses to his file as well as a new medical expertise were denied by the court. He has not received mail since February 26. How not to consider this as ruthlessness?

- Do you consider him a political prisoner?

Yes. My father was influential in the debates on the so-called ‘Islam within France’ and his absence is being felt. But above all, the ongoing investigations show that there is more and more exculpatory evidence emerging. There are inconsistencies and contradictions in the three complainants’ narrative. Before the judges, Henda Ayari changes the date and the place of the alleged r**e. This is huge! Why are the judges not asking questions and refusing our requests for his release?

- Do you think the prison administration is mistreating your father?

I am not saying that. But my father is in solitary confinement. Every day he spends an average of twenty-three hours isolated in his cell. We were told it was by mutual agreement. But when we met him he told us that he had never asked for total isolation. Is this not a kind of psychological torture? He is being treated as if he were already convicted.

In fact, he is not getting the care he needs. His health is deteriorating; I can see that every time I visit him. And for the first time in his life, he is unable to fast for Ramadan. He has terrible headaches, problems with concentration, cramps in his hands that prevent him from writing. How can he prepare his defence under these conditions? This is very worrying. He must be released. We proposed handing over his passport, the payment of a deposit, the wearing of an electronic bracelet. But without success!

- If he were released, there is no risk of fleeing the country?

Of course not! Fleeing would be an admission of guilt on his part and would be in total contradiction to the fact that he went to the police voluntarily, in response to the police’s summoning. He is an internationally known figure, where do you want him to flee to? Contrary to what the media say, my father never had an Egyptian nationality. He has only Swiss nationality. It has been said that he could take refuge in Switzerland. But a complaint was also filed against him there, it does not make sense!

- The four complainants in France and Switzerland, according to you, are lying?

Yes, but I would like to tell you that my support for my father is neither blind nor naive. I lived for thirty years with him, and the contradictions of the complainants confirm my conviction.

- So why do you think these women complained?

I do not know. You have to ask them.

- Do you doubt sometimes?

About my father, no. About justice, yes.

- And if it turned out that Tariq Ramadan had sexually assaulted a woman, what would you say to that?

It is unimaginable for me! You need to know that in my family, I have always been taught to be on the side of the oppressed, the victims. So far, the only real victim is my father because he is the one in prison while his accusers are on TV sets and radio.

- What do you think of the campaign?

I support it. I am fighting for women's rights. But if some women manipulate this movement, laying unfounded accusations, they are undermining the cause. It is the word of the real victims that will be questioned.

I sense a strange climate. Because we have doubts about the word of some women, we would question the entire movement. It is very problematic.

- The case revealed that your father was visibly living a double life. Is it not in contradiction with what he preached to his audiences?

It would be “contradictory” if it was proved; it is not the case today, even if the press tries to anticipate the facts. Nobody is entitled to make a lawsuit on morality! Mixing the moral aspect and the judicial aspect is very problematic. Today my father is accused and imprisoned for crimes he categorically denies. Only the judicial aspect should matter.

- Certainly but he is a much listened-to politico-religious leader. Public opinion has the right to question this?

What matters for us, his family, is the respect of the presumption of innocence. From the beginning, he denies the allegations he is accused of. We do not want people to decide whether he is guilty or not. It is up to the justice to decide that. What we are seeking is, I repeat, the respect of the presumption of innocence and that his state of health be taken into consideration.

اللهم بلغنا ليلة القدر

Do not underestimate yourself. You are capable of more than you can ever imagine. When life presses in on you the hardest, that is when your breakthrough is near. Press on. Do not stop to think about the work you have to do. Just put yourself on auto-pilot.
Hold yourself to a higher standard daily. Your family, friends and co-workers all look to you for their cues. Be mindful to lift the vibration in every room you enter. Treat yourself to a higher belief system. Trust and let go. Greatness is in your DNA. God don’t make junk. Each day you have a new chance to develop new ideas, reach for new goals and conquer new mountains. Chase down your dream like it is the last bus of the night. Go get it! You have something special. You have Greatness within you!!

True story...