MADRID, October 28, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Moderate Muslim Scholar Tariq Ramadan has been one of the keynote speakers in a cultural event that attracyed a host of intercultural and interfaith thinkers despite repeated attempts by ultra-rightists and Israel's ambassador to Spain to taint the scholar's image.

Spanish thinkers and organizers of the event were the first to defend the renowned Swiss scholar, of Egyptian origin.

"Ramadan was a significant speaker in our event," Teresa Aranda, a journalist and deputy head of the non-governmental organization (NGO) which organized the conference, has told IslamOnline.net.

"We have never heard of his so-called pro-extremism statements," she said.

"Extremists are those parties who walked out and did not participate in the cultural event," according to Aranda.

Another thinker and counselor of the organization saw eye-to-eye with Aranda, terming Ramadan "an important intellectual in today's world."

Speaking to IOL, Antonio Martin Balin, a member of the Supreme Spanish Court said the anti-Ramadan statements were intended to spoil attempts to bring Islam and the West to a meeting point.

When invited to address the interfaith conference organized by Atman organization on "alliance of civilization", Ramadan was categorically criticized and eventually boycotted by Spain's rightist Popular party and Israel's ambassador in Madrid Víctor Harel.

According to IOL correspondent, Atman Institution invited Ramadan and others as speakers to address the inter-cultural event, but Harel claimed Ramadan was a "radical" scholar who had given excuses for the September 11 attacks on Washington and New York.

Despite being hailed as an example of moderate Muslim scholars who could bring Islam and the West to a meeting point, Tariq Ramadan was boycotted by some Spanish rightists and Harel when he was delivering his lecture in Madrid.

"Ramadan serves as a bridge between Muslims and the West," said Jima Martin Monuz, an Islamic Sociology professor, and one of the participants in the conference.

"I have closely followed up statements by Ramadan, especially those after September 11, and could find no trace of such allegations by his critics," she told a press conference.

Ramadan's lecture was on Tuesday, October 25, where he talked about the role of Muslims in Europe.

"The European societies are in need of values, as they suffer from spiritual void, and Muslims can help," Ramadan told the session.

Despite the boycott, Ramadan's lecture was attended by a large audience and was a common issue for discussions by Spanish as well as European media.

Muslims in Europe can expound to the European the true nature of Islam and give an example of Islamic values, Ramadan concluded in his lecture.

Many see Ramadan, 38, as a moderate voice in the Muslim world who could make a valuable contribution to the debate about Islam.

The father of four is known for his calls on Muslims in the West to avoid standing on a defensive line and to present Islam as a universal message.

Ramadan publicly condemned the 11/9/2001 attacks and is against the taking of innocent life.

Invited to a one-day anti-terrorism conference sponsored by London Metropolitan police, he called on Muslims to condemn the London terrorist attacks "with the strongest energy".

"Criminals, no doubt, will continue to kill, but we shall be able to respond to them by demonstrating that our experience of human brotherhood and mutual respect is stronger than their message of hate."

Ramadan has been selected by British Premier Tony Blair in post-July 7 London bombings as an advisor and member of a committee on combating terror in Britain and former EU commissioner Romano Prodi in July 2005 as a member of an international inter-civilization conference.

The Spanish NGO was established as part of the "alliance of civilizations" initiative floated by Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in cooperation with the UN more than a year ago.

A one-million euro fund by Spanish, European and Muslim figures was raised with the main donation coming from Iranian businessman Farshad Zandi.

The institution will later seek donations from Spanish and European governments as a body defending public interest.