13/03/2008 Political Affairs and Democracy
Strasbourg, 13.03.2008 - In the introduction to his report on European Muslim communities confronted with extremism, João Bosco Mota Amaral (Portugal, EPP/CD) explains that, erroneously or not, the question many people ask themselves is whether the Muslim faith is compatible with Western values and way of living.
“I do not accept the concept of the clash of civilisations: Islam and the West have coexisted for centuries, are compatible and based on the same universal core values. But I see a serious danger in the clash between the ideology of Islamic fundamentalism and the ideology of democracy and human rights which is the cradle of European states,” he says. “Muslim opinion leaders in Europe carry a special responsibility in preventing the spread of the ideology of Islamic fundamentalism by condemning it firmly and unequivocally. On the other hand, European political leaders must acknowledge that the ideology of Islamic fundamentalism, which can, in some cases, pave the way for extremism and violence, is a problem. They must act to counter it while fully respecting the Muslim faith and avoiding all adverse consequences for ordinary Muslims who profess their religion in a peaceful manner.”
The report, which was adopted by a large majority in the Political Affairs Committee, will be debated by PACE at its next plenary session (Strasbourg, 14-18 April). It makes a series of concrete proposals for avoiding discrimination, condemning and combating Islamophobia, taking action against hate speech and ensuring compliance with human rights and the rule of law in the enforcement of anti-terrorist measures.