Brussels, 10th December, 2003

RELIGIOUS AND PHILOSOPHICAL LIBERTIES IN TOMORROW’S EUROPE

At a time when civil society is recognised as a major player in the promotion, the development and the defence of democracy and civil liberties, it is beyond doubt that philosophical or religious institutions, organisations or communities are fundamental pillars of this civil society. Everyone possesses indeed a faith or a philosophy that determines one’s approach to Life and Death and to the sense of one’s existence and being.

Officially since the Maastricht Treaty, the European Institutions have acknowledged this reality and have taken great care to engage in a continuous and respectful dialogue with the faiths and philosophies throughout churches, confessional and non-confessional organisations.

This ongoing dialogue is formally written down in the forthcoming European Constitution in the well publicised Article I.51. To date, this dialogue raised little debate for the Convention members widely agreed that philosophical organisations had their role to play in the EU building alongside any other segments of society.

Now, in the wake of next IGC to take place at the end of this week in Brussels, it seems that some governments, under the pressure of ultra-secular minority groups, may push for a refusal of Article I.51.

Though this article may not appear crucial for the EU future developments compared to the debates occurring around the representation of Member States within the Commission, the Presidency, etc., Femyso wants to stress its importance and impact on the future relations of EU Institutions with the faiths and philosophies of Europe.

Femyso urges all Foreign Ministers charged with discussing the text of the Convention in this week’s IGC to maintain Article I.51 and not to yield to the sirens of a fundamentalist secularism which does not only search for the separation of Church and State – which we can certainly understand – but for the simple eradication of any religious, or spiritual values and references from society.

Khallad Swaid, President of Femyso, states: “the danger is that a philosophically oriented minority group could overcome the wills and aspirations of the immense majority of European citizens, who share, at one level or another, a common link to something superior, may it be named God, the Great Clockmaker, the Fundamental Energy or whatever else”.

Officially recognised and heartedly appreciated by civil society, this dialogue will go on anyway, written or not in the Constitution, for EU Institutions know its importance. But the risk is that it become anarchical and is driven to irrational and short minded policies.

As Muslims struggling for Justice, Equality and Respect between faiths and philosophies, this desire of some to confiscate the debate to their own profit is unbearable! We firmly ask all Foreign Ministers to take a clear and firm stance for the preservation of philosophical and religious plurality in tomorrow’s Europe by retaining Article I.51 in the final text.

Khallad Swaid
President of Femyso
Contact: info@femyso.com