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Chief Rabbi of Brussels Albert Guigui talks about the rise of antisemitism in Europe and how to fight it.
This is exactly what this is about: work together. When we share common projects and face challenges together, then the other reveals itself to me as he is, as a partner who helps me find a solution to my problem. I stop fearing him and, on the contrary, we grow nearer. It is what Emmanuel Levinas calls “the epiphany of the other,” the revelation of the other. I think that if we want to combat radicalisation, we do need common projects involving all layers of society. Our whole society should take part in this discussion.
The EU’s Special Envoy for Promotion of Freedom of Religion or Belief outside the EU talks about the freedoms he’s been fighting to protect.
We need to show consistency in our intra-EU policies if we want to achieve higher credibility outside. Here like in all human rights agenda, double standards in policy is counterproductive. But the internal promotion of FoRB is obviously different, having in mind not only constitutional instruments in all EU Member States but also our Treaty with the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the Luxembourg European Court of Justice and also the European Convention on Human Rights and the Strasbourg ECHR.
FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF WITHIN THE EU WHY DO WE NEED THIS?
After the successful conclusion of the Faith and Freedom Summit, held in the European Parliament and attended by both the EU’s Special Envoy for the Promotion of Religion outside the EU, Jan Figel and the OSCE’s Senior Advisor on Freedom of Religion and Belief, Kishan Manocha – both key speakers, the Summit has launched for a very promising year to come.
The key focus of the summit, a coalition of 18 NGOs (and growing), is the promotion and protection of freedom of religion and belief within the European Union. So it is vital to understand why such an orientation.
The European Faith & Freedom NGO Coalition condemns the attack to the people of New Zealand
Whilst on the opposite side of the world the Christchurch murders of 50 members of Islam in their place of worship is a shocking reminder that some in the Western world are so far out of line with basic human values and human rights. We send our heartfelt condolences to all involved.
Article in New Europe
The weekly Brussels based newspaper New Europe, which audience includes European Institutions, policymakers, politicians, governments, NGO’s , business stakeholders and other subscribers in more than 150 countries around the globe, announced the Faith and Freedom Summit pledge in an article that you can find online: NGOs coalition calls on EU politicians to pledge for freedom of religion or belief
Practicing what we preach
We live in the world in general and in Europe in particular, in times of uncertainty that need messages and moral responses that do not have to coincide with what the majority decides, because truth and beauty shine by themselves. Without wishing to be exhaustive, among the challenges posed to Europe that are on the table we can mention three: dignity, community challenge and equality.