"If we stick to this Judaeo-Christian definition, in that case, let us at least bring in Islam," said Boubakeur

ROME, November 1, (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - One of France's leading Muslim scholars maintained Friday, October 31, that if the proposed European Union constitution mentions the continent's Judeo-Christian roots it should refer to Islam as well, a view strongly supported by the Germany interior minister.

"If we stick to this Judaeo-Christian definition, in that case, let us at least bring in Islam," Dalil Boubakeur, imam of Paris Grand Mosque, told AFP, highlighting "cultural and artistic contribution of Islam everywhere in Europe."

"For me, speaking only of the Judeo-Christian roots of Europe, when there are 17 million Muslims in western Europe, would seem to me a little unfair," he asserted.

Boubakeur also put forth a halfway house between the three monotheistic religions.

"But given that I am a citizen of a secular state, France, which makes no reference to religion in its institutions, and that we are uncomfortable... having religious references at the European level when the nation does not make them, in a spirit of objectivity... I would suggest speaking of spiritual references."

Boubakeur proposed a "simple reference to the spirituality of Abrahamic monotheism" since the three great monotheistic faiths all derive from the prophet Abraham.

"Otherwise we risk creating more problems than we solve."

There has been continuing controversy over whether an overt reference to Europe's Christian heritage should be written into the constitution's preamble, with Roman Catholic countries such as Italy, Poland and Spain pressing for such inclusion.

The draft constitution was unveiled in June. It was drawn up over 18 months by a forum of EU politicians chaired by former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing.

Boubakeur took part Thursday, October 30, in a meeting of European interior ministers devoted to an "inter-faith dialogue as a factor of social cohesion in Europe and peace in the Mediterranean."

Among those present were Roman Catholic Archbishop Antonio Canizares Llovera, Anglican Bishop Christopher Herbert, Orthodox bishop Athanasios Shatzopoulos and German Jewish leader Charlotte Knobloch.

German Support 

"We can also make a reference to the Islamic tradition because of the influence that it has had on European civilization," said Schily

Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, German Interior Minister Otto Schily echoed Boubakeur's views, asserting that planned constitution should allude to the role of all three major monotheistic religions in founding modern Europe.

Schily told reporters in Rome that mentioning Christianity, Islam and Judaism in the preamble to the E.U. constitution would help resolve the row over the absence in the draft text of any reference to the religious roots of European civilization.

"We can certainly write a reference to the Judeo-Christian values of Europe in the preamble," Schily said.

"We can also make a reference to the Islamic tradition because of the influence that it has had on European civilization," he underlined.

"In order to be able to counter terrorism, we must open up the debate (to include religion) because the armed forces and the police are not enough."

Italy, which holds the presidency of the European Union, called the conference a while ago and most of the 15 E.U. interior ministers or their deputies were attending.

Italy's Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu, who is hosting the meeting, said he has been convinced for some time "that dialogue among the three great monotheistic religions can play a fundamental role" in integrating immigrants.