Representatives of the Monotheistic Religions at the British Embassy in Berlin

By Ariana Mirza

​​Just a few days after the attacks in London, Christian, Moslem and Jewish dignitaries met at the British Embassy in Berlin to commemorate the victims. Along with political representatives, the religious experts discussed strategies for combating conditions that foster terrorism in the name of religion.

The unanimous message was that all religious communities must take an unequivocal stand of solidarity on this issue. Dialogue among the religions must be encouraged without glossing over the differences. The attempts of a few individuals to abuse religious must not be allowed to undermine people's trust in one another.

The British Ambassador to Germany, Sir Peter Torry, emphasized that fanaticism is an attitude of mind and not a religious position – thus, it is extremely misguided to associate devout Muslims with terrorists.

Terror has no religious legitimization

All the religious representatives repeatedly made it clear that the terrorist acts absolutely contradict all notions of faith. All monotheistic religions regard murder and suicide as the gravest of sins, explained Rabbi Yitzak Ehrenberg from the Orthodox Jewish community in Berlin.

"Islam does not permit anarchy, it does not permit terrorist acts," added Dr. Nadeem Elyas. The Chair of the Central Committee of Muslims in Germany pointed out that Islamic theologians wrote a manifesto on the subject in 2003 in Mecca.

Elyas believes that the task of the Muslim community in Germany is to convey these fundamental values of Islam to all believers. He insisted that imams must be trained in Germany and in German in order to strengthen their sense of commitment to their new homeland. Parallel to this, there should be a Germany-wide program of education on Islam to convey the true fundamentals of belief.

An Islam of tolerance

Cem Özdemir, a Green member of the European Parliament, spoke of the responsibility of the family and the individual. He emphasized that his Muslim parents introduced him to an Islam of tolerance and good will, rather than hatred or feelings of superiority. He said that Muslims living in Europe value its democratic structures, and must make increased efforts to express this publicly.

The experts stressed that the terrorists' strategy of setting the Western and the Islamic worlds against each other is even more dangerous than the attacks themselves. "That is why a crusade mentality must be rejected with equal vehemence," declared Bishop Clemens, Chair of the Ecumenical Councel of Berlin-Brandenburg.

Marieluise Beck, Member of Parliament and Federal Commissioner for Immigration, Refugees and Integration, promised to deal sensitively yet vigilantly with orthodox Islamic groups. She stressed that prevention, above all, means that "young people must regard democratic society as their true home."

Ariana Mirza

© Qantara.de 2005

Transalation from German: Isabel Cole

Qantara.de

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Nabil Abdel-Fattah, scholar at the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo, explores the dynamics that led to the bombings in London and the killing of an Egyptian ambassador which continue to haunt the future.

Muslims in Germany
Dangerous Ignorance
Far too little research has been done on the attitudes of Muslims toward the social and political system in Germany. This ignorance fuels conspiracy theories on "the Muslims" and terror, says Eberhard Seidel