A Muslim scholar branded by some as sympathizing with violence has been appointed to a UK government task force attempting to root out Islamic extremism in Britain, the Guardian newspaper has reported.
Tariq Ramadan has been banned from entering the US and France because of his alleged views supporting violence, allegations he strongly refutes.
He faced a campaign of vilification from rightwing British newspapers, and on Tuesday some saw his inclusion on the group as evidence of the government's willingness to stand up to the tabloids.
The task force, known as the working group on tackling extremism, is part of the government's response to the July attacks on London, which was announced by UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
A source with knowledge of the group's work said its members had been chosen by the UK's Home Office.
The 13-member working party will report to the home secretary and prime minister by late September and make proposals to stop British Muslims turning to violence.
Leading thinker
His supporters say he is one of the leading Islamic thinkers and an important voice in improving relations between Muslims and the west.
The academic attended a meeting at the Home Office last week to discuss extremism among British Muslims as part of the group's work.
The group is comprised of Muslims from community groups, academics and the MP Shahid Malik, and is staffed by Home Office civil servants.
Rightwing newspapers have called for the professor to be banned from Britain because of his alleged views justifying terrorism.
Last year he was stopped from taking up a post at a US university after the Bush administration revoked his visa claiming he "endorsed terrorist activity."
Yesterday some hailed the appointment of Ramadan to the committee, saying it showed the government was prepared to stand up to rightwing tabloids that had savaged the academic.
South London Labour MP Sadiq Khan said: "It's important for the government to listen to people who have scholarly knowledge of the issues."
"It sends all the right messages that the government is engaged in a real search for answers, rather than pandering to kneejerk elements in the rightwing press and their prejudices," he said.
One source present at last week's meeting told the Guardian that Ramadan's contribution was "progressive" and he said there was a real need for Muslims to confront extremism and accept it exists.
Respect
Another source with knowledge of the setting up of the group said: "He brings understanding of Islam that young people respect."
Ramadan has said the French ban on him was successfully challenged in court and he now has an office there. He also says he has been invited to reapply for a US visa.
He is based in Switzerland and has lectured to senior police officers in Britain. He recently was appointed a visit fellow at an Oxford University college. The US-based Time magazine hailed him as one of the 21st century's likely innovators.
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