“People have called you slippery, they’ve called you double-face, jam-space, brilliant, bridge-builder and a Muslim Martin Luther,” said Cerritos College’s History Professor John Haas to Tariq Ramadan.

Tariq Ramadan is a professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies at Oxford University, who was the guest speaker at the Global Consortium for Sustainable Peace.

The event was held at the Teleconference Center on April 17 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and was organized by the History Department at Cerritos College, the Global Studies Club, the Muslim Student Association and the People’s History Association.

Ramadan emphasizes in the perception of Islamic texts, and the diversity among Western Muslims.

Haas told Dr. Ramadan, “Your admiracy was the greatest performer who works assiduously to be the chasm between Muslim Orthodoxy and the receptor of democracy.

“You’re detracted accused of anti-Semitism, religious bigotry, promoting oppression of women and waking a cove of holy war on the liberal west,” Haas said.

Ramadan first explained how his parents fled a political exile from Egypt to Switzerland where he was born. He came to the conclusion that he had to do to remain himself, and to get a better understanding of the society in which he was living and overall to remain faithful to his principles.

“I’m looking at the west and those are very good principles of justice, peace and democracy. But please don’t keep these values to yourself and spread war and exploitation. I want to be vocal in the name of justice,” Ramadan said.

Ramadan also explained how in today’s society to be vocal means you ought to cause controversy, especially in the west. If you are Muslim activist there, you’re most likely to be misunderstood and unheard.

Throughout the presentation Haas brought up points such as books that were written about Dr. Ramadan where he was critized, but instead of retaliating he said, “You have to respect the freedom of conscious and worship.”

In this case referring to the French, on how Muslim women are not allowed to wear a head scarf at any academic institution.

He also gave the counter argument on how it is against the Islam religion to force women to wear a head scarf, as far as the Saudi and the Arabian law.

His critical thinking is equally given on both sides, causing people on both sides of the coin to have something negative to say about him.

Ramadan also expressed his feelings toward the press, he said. “I don’t have double-talk, you have a double hearing. You are selective in the way you are listening to me because you are creating something that isn’t.”

He explained how judging based upon false or misled news causes people to have the wrong idea about reality.

Haas asked how to become closer despite all the things exposed that can affect the way you perceive things.

Ramadan said, “Love, because if there is love, there should be justice, and because there is justice, you should say I love you.”

He continued explaining how it is not about being the best and getting a degree, because that is only a title, but instead how you contribute to your society is what’s significant.

Ramadan said, “Stand up for your values, you have to be humble and have to be courageous.”

After explaining the array of political and personal issues he has had, there was an open microphone for students to ask questions.