Very happy about dialog between religious communities
The Science Minister of Rhineland-Palatinate, Clemens Hoch, has praised the dialog between the state association of Jewish communities and Islamic religious communities, also in view of the Hamas terror in Israel. He is glad that this dialog exists, said the SPD politician on Tuesday in the state parliament in Mainz. The four Islamic associations, with whom a basic agreement with the state of Rhineland-Palatinate is also being negotiated, had also taken a stance on the events in the Middle East and stood by the side of the civilian population.
Hoch was reacting to statements made by CDU parliamentary group leader Gordon Schnieder. Schnieder had previously demanded an "explicit signal" from the Islamic associations, a condemnation of Hamas terror and a commitment to the state of Israel. This must also be part of the possible target agreement with the country. Should the associations' commitment to Israel be called into question, the negotiations should be questioned or, if necessary, broken off, said Schnieder. Hoch emphasized that there would only be cooperation with those who worked together with the state to combat anti-Semitism.
Negotiations between the state and the four Islamic associations were resumed in the summer after a break of several years. The issues at stake include religious education, burial regulations, pastoral care, religious holidays and theological education at universities.
The aim is to negotiate a treaty by 2025. The four associations involved are the Schura Rhineland-Palatinate, an association of mosque communities, the Islamic religious community Ditib Rhineland-Palatinate, the Rhineland-Palatinate State Association of Islamic Cultural Centers (LVIKZ) and Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat.
In the context of the ongoing negotiations for a treaty between the state and the four Islamic associations, it's crucial that Parliament considers the role of religion in promoting understanding and harmony between different faiths. The dialogue between Parliament and these religious communities, including Parliamentary discussions on religion-related matters, can significantly contribute to fostering unity and respect among various religious groups.
Source: www.dpa.com
