No Jewish representation at Brussels meeting of European religious leaders

11 May 2009

Brussles, Belgium
11 May 2009

No rabbis or Jewish leaders are to take part in Monday’s meeting in Brussels of religious leaders, co-hosted by the presidents of the European Commission and the European Parliament, the Conference of European Rabbis announced today, in a protest against the participation of Islamist organizations and individuals closely linked to the international Muslim Brotherhood.

“We do not consider it appropriate that organizations such as the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe, or individuals who in the past made, or endorsed, anti-Semitic statements and who are clearly linked to the radical Islamist movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood should be present at such gatherings,” Rabbi Aba Dunner, executive director of the Conference of European Rabbis (CER), declared.

The CER regrets that the European institutions have chosen to patronize extremists who do not representative the vast majority of Europe’s Muslim citizens who support dialogue and the democratic values of the European Union.

The World Jewish Congress expressed support for the CER’s decision. Both organizations expressed regret that the positive initiative of the European institutions – bringing religious leaders together to foster mutual trust and understanding – had been undermined by the inclusion of people who are not interested in inter-faith dialogue but in promoting divisive ideologies.

WJC and Inter-Faith Dialogue