Over 400 groups sign European Muslim 'charter of values'

What the hell is going on? Why do Muslims need their own charter? Aren't they part of Europe? Wouldn't the established charters of their respective countries and of the EU itself suffice? No? Why is that, because they don't want to be part of Europe?

Hmmm.

The news story is here:


Brussels, 10 Jan. (AKI) - More than 400 Muslim groups on Thursday signed a 'charter of values' at the European Parliament pledging tolerance and respect for the laws of the countries in which they live.

"The charter amounts to a code of good conduct for Muslims in Europe which commits them to taking part in building a united society," said European Parliament vice-president Mario Mauro.

"It pledges Muslims to helping create harmony and well-being in our societies and to fully playing the role of citizens in upholding justice, equal rights and respect for difference."

Mauro is an Italian politician from the conservative Forza Italia party of former premier Silvio Berlusconi and in his role as deputy European Parliament president is tasked with handling relations with churches and religious communities.

"The charter gives a great boost to strengthening intercultural and inter-religious dialogue. And it reinforces Muslims' duty to respect non-Muslims," said Mauro.

The document was prepared by the Federation of Islamic Organisations in Europe and endorsed by the groups in Brussels.

Traditional New Year's Eve fireworks were cancelled in Brussels and the government increased security and patrols of the city's airport, transport systems and commercial centres after police said they had uncovered a plot to free jailed Tunisian al-Qaeda suspect Nizar Trabelsi.

Trabelsi is serving a 10-year prison sentence for plotting to blow up an airbase in Belgium used by US personnel.

A Belgian appeals court last year upheld a ban on an anti-Islam protest planned for 11 September in Brussels, six years after al-Qaeda's terror attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September 2001.

An alliance of anti-Muslim European groups in Denmark, Britain and Germany organised the planned protest, they said to commemorate the victims of 9/11.


Up Pompeii has the charter here.

Note from Always On Watch

According to this from the European People's Party's web site (Mario Mauro is a member of the EPP), 2008 is the Year of European Intercultural Dialogue:

On 08 January, the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008 was officially launched in Ljubljana, Slovenia, highlighting the start of the first Slovenian EU Presidency.

The festive evening was opened by the speeches of Dr Danilo Tϋrk, the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Ján Figel', the European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, Dr Hans-Gert Pöttering, the President of the European Parliament, Dr Edvard Kovač, professor of ethics and cultural anthropology and Janez Janša, Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia. The grand opening culminated in a colourful artistic programme featuring poetry reading and musical performances as well as short films and modern dance. At the end of the opening event, hundreds of school children carrying their luggage, as if on a journey, filled the stage accompanied by the musical performance of an 11-year-old violinist.

In his opening speech, Commissioner Ján Figel' stressed that "cultural diversity is Europe's wealth, rather than its problem. The expansion of the EU and migration are only increasing this diversity. We therefore need more dialogue between cultures as a contribution to a higher level of mutual understanding between various nations, ethnicities and religions, in order to overcome nationalism and xenophobia."...

Why does that blurb remind me so much of interfaithing? Maybe because intercultural dialogue is interfaithing on a political level?.

I will attempt to find out more about this the "Muslims Charter." I note that Article One, Section One begins as follows:

Our understanding of Islam is based on immutable principles that are derived from the authentic sources of Islam: the Qur'an and the Prophetic traditions (Sunnah)...

Off to a rousing start right there, huh? Just how will following certain "immutable" verses in the Koran allow for Muslims to support Western values?


AND, MORE FROM PASTORIUS: Note that the Muslim Charter claims "immutable principles". When is Europe going to claim that its principles are immutable?

When is Europe going to possess the courage of its convictions?

If they don't come to possess such courage soon, they will lose to those who hold fast to their convictions. Muslims believe more in their principles (however, vile and disgusting they may be) than Europeans believe in themselves.

Another Note From AOW:

Read this, about the Federation of Islamic Organisations in Europe in Militant Islam Monitor.