I am aware many Mauritians will be delighted by the forthcoming visit of Tariq Ramadan. We are all more or less familiar with the credentials of Mr Ramadan.

I don?t mean to be disrespectful to this illustrious personality who is doing his best to dispel prejudices about Islam. I wish we had more Tariq Ramadan for this very noble task.

It looks like 2007 will mark his eighth visit to Mauritius. I still remember his first visit and how, after assisting his debate at Octave Wiehé, I was in awe of him. I was not the only one, for he became an instant hit with all Mauritians, and not just the muslims. Since then, he has been gracing us with his presence.

Each time, I see or hear about the huge number of people flocking in to listen to Tariq Ramadan, I have this urge to ask a few questions, though mostly to myself. This time, I have, somehow, plucked the courage to ask it to others.

There is no denying that Tariq Ramadan is well versed in what he says. I cannot help but wonder if to many he has not become just like a celebrity. I am referring mainly to the local muslim communtiy. We just love to adulate the likes of Shah Rukh because he is a Khan. Or we would go bonkers about the Scouts Club for some odd reasons. It is an ingrained thing in us, that we owe some form of loyalty to someone famous, based solely on common religious or ethnic background.

I reckon Tariq Ramadan truly deserves the admiration and respect we are throwing at him. Yet, who is truly gaining from all this? I am talking at the national level here. Each visit of his, looks like a publicity stunt for a group. A group of so-called elites, or snobs, who comprise mostly of board-members of a mosque. In their thirst for attention, they just appropriate Mr Ramadan and it is they who dictate all his movements, who get to meet him, where and when.

Can we blame them for seizing this once in a lifetime occasion to make headlines? Not suprising that the visits are becoming more frequent. I bet the promoters/sponsors are increasing at each visit as well.

To the majority of the muslims,Tariq Ramadan has just everything one would wish for in a leader. The guy is articulate, well-groomed, an intellectual; he is gifted with a sound knowledge of Islam and he is good-looking as well. He has charisma as we say. He is almost worshipped by the layman, if I may be excused for using this word here. Tariq Ramadan has all that our representatives lack. He seems to fill this void perfectly.

?We just love to adulate the likes of Shah Rukh because he is a Khan. Or we would go bonkers about the Scouts Club for some odd reasons.?

Filling a void is not bad, but what next for those poorly-tutored bunch that make up the crowd? They are just left to their own device after his departure. Or else at the mercy of crooks and self-serving individuals mostly.

What has been achieved after seven tours of Mr Ramadan? How far have we shown our appreciation by embracing what Mr Ramadan is preaching? Have we built more mosques to cater for women? I kind of remember many being worried about this issue during his first visit. Is this still an issue? To my knowledge and chagrin, I have not seen any materialisation of Mr Ramadan?s speeches.

Are we spreading the right message and setting the right example? Or do we, muslims, just give ourselves a pat on the back that he is one of ours, he is ?nou? Tariq. That should say it all and be enough.

?Why else would the likes of Cehl Meeah get away with shameless posturing??

We may be lazy in following his teachings, but I am sure that the business-aspect of this visit would be seized upon by the ?promoters?. I am sure those who miss the gig of Tariq Ramadan, and those who wish to add to their CD collection, will be catered for. I, myself, bought his cassette collection at a rather exorbitant price when it came out for sale. Who pockets all the profits out of all this? Is it appropriate to make profit out of all this? I know even charity is a dodgy business these days, and so far, this visit has not been classified as a charitable event. Is this visit a humanitarian venture? A group-oriented one? A religious ritual of some kind?

Do pardon my cynicisms, but whose agenda is this forthcoming visit serving? It is no secret that we still rely on bigots to give us lessons about our own religion. Why else would the MPL be ridiculed by politicians at each election? Why else would we become the laughing stock for others? Why else would the likes of Cehl Meeah get away with shameless posturing?

My optimisitic nature, how-ever, tells me that we will one day wake up, then see and hear what Tariq Ramadan has to say. That the media-event will end. For the time being let us prepare ourselves to welcome Tariq Ramadan in our midst. He cannot be blamed for our shortcomings.

<B>By Swaleha JOOMUN </B>