ECLJ Participates in the “Alliance of Civilizations” International Conference on “Religious Freedom in Democratic Societies”

The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) participated in a high-level meeting on May 3-4th on “Religious Freedom in Democratic Societies” held in Córdoba (Spain) and organized by the Spanish Presidency of the European Union Council under the auspicies of the United Nations' Alliance of Civilizations.  The Director of the ECLJ, Grégor Puppinck, participated in the event.
 
One of the practical aims of the conference was to help develop Article 17.3 of the Treaty of Lisbon, which states that “the Union will maintain open, transparent and regular dialogue” with churches and religious organizations.

This conference was attended by 100 high-level representatives and political decision-makers from EU Member States and candidate countries, independent experts such as the
Mr Ömür Orhun, Advisor, Secretary General of the Islamic Conference, former Representative of the OSCE against Islamophobia, Professor Olivier Roy, expert in Islamic studies, Tariq Ramadan from the European Moslem Network, but also Mr Gilles de Kerchove, Counter-Terrorism Coordinator of the EU, or Andrew Baker, Director, International Jewish Affairs American-Jewish Committee, etc. Some representatives of various religions and beliefs also took part.   Dr Puppinck, Director of the ECLJ, was invited as independent expert.

The conference tried to initiate a reflection on coexistence, both within “our own Western and democratic societies and in our relations with other societies and countries”. This reflection was perceived as urgent because of the growing cultural and religious diversity of Western societies, as a result of migratory movements. Of particular concern was the unprecedented transformation of European national identities, resulting from its simultaneous de-Christianization and Islamisation.

Issues such as the wearing of Islamic headscarves, the building of minarets, or the concept of “Defamation of Religion“, for example, were at the center of the debate. Most of the participants have deplored the tensions and the attitudes of resistance of the European population to the integration of other cultural and religious traditions. As example, ways were discussed in order to find means to “rectify” the recent Swiss referendum banning the construction of minarets, as said Ömür Orhun of the Islamic Conference. It has been agreed that a deep political involvement, in particular through mass-media and education within the population, is necessary to overcome the social resistance to the integration of Islam in Europe.

The participants of the conference acknowledged that this new pluralism and the lost of the traditional culture of the Western society have caused a serious crisis of identity and a vacuum of shared social values. It is with great difficulties that the participants tried to identify and delve deeper into the principles and common values on which our democratic societies are based.

In its presentation at the conference, Grégor Puppinck expressed that the debates should not only focus on how to legally and socially organize religious coexistence and pluralism, but that we should also focus on the need to preserve the democratic nature of our societies, and to cultivate their underlying values. Many examples, even recent, show who the arrival of a new religion which creates this “new religious pluralism”, can drive to cultural tensions, and cause the destabilization of the society. Dr Puppinck noted that because the Human Rights philosophy is fundamentally individualistic, it is difficult, in this framework to include in our reflection the collective and social dimension of religion. He underlined that it is important to acknowledge and protect social religious expressions when they have become part of the local historical, social and cultural life. Special feast days, traditional religious symbols or certain traditions are not a contradiction to the idea of a pluralistic society. This requires a prior recognition of the legitimacy of the expression of the religious identities in the public sphere. Indeed, the religious dimension of the cultural identity of a society deserves respect and protection. It is natural, it is a concrete social benefit and lies at the basis of shared values. Dr Puppinck brought the example of the presence of the crucifix in the Italian public schools.

Finally, he recalled that the Christians is the religious community the more suffering from religious persecution in the world. Even in Europe the number of discriminating and even violent acts against Christians has risen, but it is very often underestimated by the media.

See here the oral intervention presented by Grégor Puppinck

See here the presentation and program of the Cordoba AOC conference

The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) is an international law firm focusing on the protection of human rights and religious freedom in Europe and worldwide.  The ECLJ is affiliated with the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) which focuses on protecting religious freedom in the United States. Attorneys for the ECLJ have served as counsel in numerous cases before the European Court of Human Rights.  Additionally, the ECLJ has special Consultative Status with ECOSOC of the United Nations, and is accredited to the European Parliament.