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"Dialogue will help foster mutual religious respect and support for common values," Maizar (R) told IOL.
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By
Tamer Abul Einein, IOL Correspondent
BERN,
May 18, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) – Representatives of the three
monotheist religions in Switzerland have established a council to
promote inter-faith tolerance and speak with one voice with the
government and political parties.
"The
Council of Religions will work to boost confidence among the followers
of the three religions," Thomas Wipf, the president of the
nascent body, told IsalmOnine.net, Wednesday, May 17.
"Stereotypes
and misconceptions can only be corrected through dialogue," added
Wipf, also president the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches (SEK).
Hisam
Maizar, chairman of the newly formed Federation of Islamic
Organizations in Switzerland (FIDS) and one of the two Muslim
representatives in the council, agreed.
"Dialogue
will help foster mutual religious respect and support for common
values," he told IOL.
The
idea of the council, officially launched on Monday, May 15, dates back
to an inter-faiths meeting held three years in Berlin cathedral on the
eve of the Iraq war.
The
six-member council will meet twice a year to examine burning issues
with the ultimate goal of ensuring religious and social harmony and
coexistence.
Advice
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The council was officially launched Monday.
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Alfred
Donath, president of the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities, will
represent the Jews.
He
also believes the new body would be a platform for effective
inter-faith dialogue.
Bishop
Kurt Koch, the representative of the Roman Catholics, said the new
body would give advise to the parties concerned.
"Europeans
in general follow up with concern the growth of Islam especially that
Muslims minority have religious obligations and demands, which the
authorities are not always aware of," he told IOL.
"This
is there the council's role comes. It will examine such cases and give
advice to the parties concerned."
The
council members will reflect on the roles of their religions in
achieving integration in different fields of cooperation.
Opinions
expressed by the council will remain consultative and its
recommendations non obligatory.
Recognition
Muslim
leaders said representation in the council is tantamount to an
official recognition of their faith in Switzerland.
"The
Muslims representation in such a significant and unprecedented council
can be seen as a recognition of the minority," said Farhad Afshar,
head of the Coordination of Islamic Organizations in Switzerland (CIOS)
and the other Muslim member in the council.
"This
is a very positive step that will help Muslims solve many of their
problems with respect to education, cemetery and
mosque-building."
Maizar
agreed.
"Muslims
are part and parcel of the Swiss society. As citizens we have rights
and duties in building society."
Switzerland
is home to some 380,000 Muslims, representing a sizable 4.7 percent of
the country’s some eight million people.
Islam
is the second religion in the country after Christianity.
