Dear old Tariq Ramadan was on Newsnight on Friday evening having a heated discussion with Douglas Murray about sharia. I had been pondering Professor Ramadan’s role earlier that day.

Tariq Ramadan's book was quoted by Archbishop Williams

Some people accuse Douglas Murray (“Murray” as Professor Ramadan calls him) of secularism, an enmity to all religions, not just Islam. In reply, Mr Murray has sent round an email to a list of contacts, saying:

Freedom of conscience, expression and belief are cornerstones of Britain which are being ridden rough-shod over at the moment, not least - now - by an Archbishop of Canterbury, who would consign all girls in Britain born into Muslim families to a different legal worth to that of their non-Muslim neighbour.  They would be subject to this for life thanks to the forbiddance (by every school of Islamic jurisprudence), on pain of death, of apostasy.

“This debate is not about theology.  It is about law.  The law which Rowan Williams is talking of is derived from a 7th century work of fiction.  I do not think anyone in Britain or elsewhere should be subjected to laws derived from this source.  The AB of C has shown that he knows nothing of Islamic law and - by his statement that the notion of one law ruling all is 'dangerous' - no knowledge of British law.”

Tariq Ramadan, (Mr Ramadan as Douglas Murray calls him) had a book of his quoted by Dr Rowan Williams during Thursday night’s unwise lecture. I can hardly think of a less reliable guide to the real state of Muslim belief and practice.

Professor Ramadan was barred from entering France for some time by Nicolas Sarkozy (as Interior Minister). He lives in England now because he is denied a visa to take up an academic job in America. So he has to make do with a fellowship at St Antony’s College Oxford and a part-time professorship at some Dutch university. Lucky to have either, I suppose.

Professor Ramadan shares a first name with Tariq bin Ziyad, the commander of the Muslim army that conquered Spain in 711. An heroic namesake to live up to, indeed.