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The Second Meeting of European Muslims organized in cooperation with the Directorate of Religious Affairs of the Turkish Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DITIB) concluded with a final declaration.
The President of Religious Affairs of Turkey, Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş shared with the audience the final statement of the meeting that lasted 3 days in the city of Cologne, Germany.
The Chairman of Religious Affairs, Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş, said before the final statement that the meeting addressed the following topics in different sessions “The Future of Muslims in Europe: Opportunities and Challenges”, “The Structural Problems of Islamic Institutions in Europe and Legal Processes”, “Negative Effects of Muslim Separatist Movements with Religious Connotations”, “Immigrants and the Construction of a Muslim Identity by the New Generations: Religious Education”, “Strategies Against the Negative Image of Islam in the Media”.
The President read a final declaration of 18 articles that was created with the conclusions of the different sessions.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the institutions and organizations of Muslims living in Europe.
President Erbaş’s final statement that was shared with the public includes the following articles:
- The correct identification and analysis of past and current religious, legal, economic and socio-cultural situations must be appropriate for the future of Muslims in Europe.
This meeting was a step in this direction and an important meeting for the development of ideas on the issues involved. - Muslims have a deep-rooted history in Europe and are today an integral part of the European continent.
Therefore, it is not possible for Muslims to support an internal or external element or discourse that will negatively affect the present and future of Muslims in Europe.
On the other hand, Muslims want the same rights and responsibilities in the social, political, economic, academic, and similar fields of the society in which they live.
Therefore, discrimination in the area of rights, neglect of responsibilities, exclusion and participation in life and social engineering cannot be accepted.
On the other hand, Muslims must be aware of sociological changes and social laws, and will maintain their relationships and harmony with the moment and geography in the best way. - The duty of justice as a universal value is to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of everyone, everywhere and at all times.
Therefore, the most fundamental indicator of the existence and supremacy of the law is the preservation of all those who are in the minority, the weak and the unprotected.
A country’s level of civilization, human development, and law are measured by a person’s morality and values and attitude toward others regardless of race, culture, or religion.
It is unthinkable that Europe, which is discouraged by its adherence to democratic law and principles, would regard Muslim existence as a security problem, a social, cultural and social threat.
Such an attitude, incompatible with scientific, academic and social reality, goes against democratic society. - It is worrying that Islamophobia, which is a type of anti-Muslim discrimination, turns into enmity and becomes an effective dimension.
It is unacceptable that Islamophobic attitudes including physical violence against women, men and even children, insults and psychological pressures, restrictions on freedom of dress, worship and belief, difficulties in daily life, housing, education, mosques, religious and cultural institutions and even cemeteries, are increasing day by day.
This approach reduces hope for the good and future of humanity, threatens Europe’s multiculturalism, the law of coexistence, peace and tranquillity.
For this, all approaches and practices that ignore rights and freedoms must be rejected regardless of the author and purpose.
In particular, the prevention of all forms of violence against freedom of belief and worship must be considered without exception as an undeferred responsibility of all States, institutions and international organizations. - It is also important to take into account the existence of socio-psychological factors that lead to intolerance and racist approaches towards Muslims and immigrants.
Therefore, social anxiety, overreactions and violent behaviour must be considered not only with regard to Muslims but also holistically for the future of Europe.
In this context, the principles of peace, social justice, exchange and protection of fundamental rights and freedoms must be seen as a solution to problems. - In Islamic geography, terrorist organizations such as FETO, DEAS, PKK, Boko Haram, al-Shabab, which are elements of discord, malice and anarchy abuse Islamic concepts and human values.
These terrorist organizations that constantly attack Muslims with their words and actions and that try to defame Islam are a global threat and a threat to the entire Muslim presence on Earth.
It is important that all Muslims continue to fight consciously and cooperatively against these groups, and it must be clearly stated that in Islam there can be no speeches, actions, attitudes or behaviours that can disturb confidence and tranquillity. - European Muslims want authorities and decision-makers to be more sensitive to discrimination, marginalization and hostility through racism and anti-Islamism towards Muslims.
It is clear that more comprehensive and more cautious security measures are needed against attacks by fringe groups and organizations.
The presence of the racial reactions of isolated and unprotected people provokes individual crises, collective panic and encouragement for aggressors.
Psychological support, legal protection, and the elimination of unjust material and spiritual treatment are the most important rights of citizens facing attacks, violence, and oppression. - Islam is a religion of peace that defends and promotes the same universal values throughout the world.
On the basis of the effect of cultural values on the imaginary of religion, it is possible to reclaim a thought, a behavior and an identity within its sociological realities.
But to consecrate Islam to a certain geography or certain methods with adjectives such as “German Islam,” “French Islam,” “Belgian Islam,” or “European Islam” contradicts the universality of Islam. - Transparent and controllable services of Muslims within the framework of the principles of justice, peace and tolerance should be seen as a great opportunity for Europe that is distinguished by its commitment to democracy, human rights and individual freedoms.
This beautiful example, which can be a model for the whole world, should not be wasted on daily political reports and policies, it should be seen as a guarantee of a multicultural, multi-religious and multinational European society.
The idea of developing policies by excluding Muslims and migrants from the process in areas such as religious services and education is a mistake.
Promoting some marginalized individuals and groups who claim to represent Muslims and relegating well-established institutions that serve hundreds of thousands of members in Europe runs counter to social realities. - European Muslims must be sensitive and careful in communicating with each other and the society in which they live.
It is essential that Muslims develop their mobility by maintaining their differences and acting with a common conscience.
In addition, it is important that the current potential of Muslims, institutions, organizations be determined in a healthy way according to the demographic conditions of Europe, if it is necessary for their administrative weaknesses to be corrected and the existing institutional structures developed towards future objectives taking into account the situation of the countries in which they are located.
It is important to follow the development of Muslims living in Europe, to find solutions to new problems posed by sociological changes, short-term approaches and differentiating paradigms, and to cooperate against discourses and activities aimed at eroding Muslims. - It is evident that Islam has a very rich tradition of knowledge and wisdom that has guided humanity for centuries.
It is important for Muslims living in Europe to resolve the problems and issues that are developing in the particular circumstances of our day by drawing on the richness of this tradition.
Therefore, matters such as halal food standards or a common religious calendar should be defined by common decisions. - Today, when social problems are becoming more and more frequent, the fight against the problems of women and young people is a priority objective.
In this context, greater efforts need to be made to inculcate in future generations a love of law, justice, compassion and peace that will contribute to the peace of humanity, authentic belief, knowledge, conscience and good morals.
Because generations far from belief, identity, national consciousness and Ummah consciousness are subject to abuse.
Therefore, the situation of young Europeans who are dispersed due to lack of belief and culture, who are exploited by false information and who are vulnerable to Islamophobic structures must be an important issue to be addressed as soon as possible. - In Europe it is necessary to establish good models of religious education, define a common curriculum, produce literature and have written, visual and digital publications accordingly.
These works are of vital importance for the correct construction and maintenance of the identity of the Muslim generations in Europe, as well as for the correction of the negative perception of Islam and Muslims. - Muslims who are an integral part of European society will exercise their rights and take all legal action when they are victims of violence, discrimination or injustice.
In this regard, organisations operating in Europe should establish legal mechanisms to guide victims, provide them with all kinds of support and opportunities, and establish institutional structures for more systematic care of victims. - The media have vital responsibilities for the coexistence of differences and for the right information to be delivered.
But some means of politics “seeing Islam as an enemy.”
In particular, a number of media outlets that use sensationalist language with a negative, exclusive, and manipulative approach to Islam and Muslims should stop portraying Muslims as “an outsider” and “a source of trouble.”
It is very important for the media to act responsibly in accordance with ethical values and peace in order to protect the pluralistic structure of society in the context of freedom of information and freedom of opinion.
In addition, European Muslims need to identify strategies and collaborate to improve their negative image in the media, including social media. - Muslims living in Europe, in order to produce new solutions to the problems they face, must look for them in concepts and methods such as “Islamic minority law”, “situations of need” and “priority jurisprudence”.
Thus, visions and fatwas that do not take into account reality and context can be avoided.
In this regard, it is important that the institutions concerned carry out pioneering work on important issues and problems in Europe. - The establishment of a coordination committee should be ensured that ensures strong and timely communication among European Muslims, that leads to vision, cooperation and organization, that contributes to coordination at the European, regional and global levels, that relates to other civil and official institutions and will develop the necessary plans for joint work.
This council should be composed of different representatives, such as academics, representatives of institutions, lawyers, and social scientists. - The organization every two years of a Meeting of European Muslims would be effective in terms of results in ensuring communication and cooperation among Muslims in Europe.
In this regard, it has been decided to establish a secretariat within the Directorate of Religious Affairs to institutionalize the gathering of European Muslims and monitor the results.
