The Danish Islamic Union rejects the government's invitation to a discussion on anti-Semitism and calls for another meeting.
The Danish Islamic Federation, which includes major Sunni and Shiite Arab and non-Arab Islamic centers in Denmark, issued a statement in which it published a letter addressed to the Ministry of Integration and Foreigners and the Ministry of Churches expressing the Federation's refusal to invite the two ministries to attend a discussion on anti-Semitism. Below is a translation of the original letter from Danish, which includes the reasons for the refusal, in addition to an invitation to the two ministries to meet at the Federation's headquarters: (Continue reading after the image)
“To the Ministry of Immigration and Integration and the Ministry of Churches,
The Danish Muslim Union (DMU) and the undersigned Islamic religious endowments received your invitation to attend the meeting on antisemitism with the sincere intention of engaging in open dialogue. It is crucial for us to ensure that ordinary Jews in Denmark do not bear the consequences of the actions of the State of Israel.
Unfortunately, the developments leading up to the meeting, as revealed by the ministers' public statements, demonstrate that dialogue has effectively been sidelined in favor of political posturing. Public pronouncements accusing Islamic religious endowments of harboring antisemitism and sympathizing with terrorism have preemptively condemned us. The rhetoric surrounding "serious conversation" and "holding accountable" leaves no doubt that Muslims are being portrayed as the problem to be blamed.
This does not create a framework for genuine and fair dialogue. It is unacceptable to portray us as guilty in the media instead of inviting us to an open and constructive dialogue. We find it impossible to participate in a "court" where judgments have already been made.
We see it as our responsibility to combat anti-Semitism and work towards a hate-free society, but we do not want to be part of a game in which Muslims are preemptively blamed and portrayed as the main source of the problem.
Based on this, we choose not to participate under the current conditions. However, we remain open to genuine dialogue, provided it is based on mutual respect and a sincere desire to discuss the substance of the issue, and not merely to demonstrate symbolic power. This message is issued on behalf of the following endowments:
- Danish Muslim Union
- Danish Islamic Endowment (Dansk Islamisk Trossamfund)
- Danish Turkish Islamic Foundation (Dansk Tyrkisk Islamisk Stiftelse)
- Minhaj-ul-Quran International Denmark
- Islamic Endowment (Det Islamiske Trossamfund)
- Islamic Endowment for Bosnians in Denmark (Det Islamiske Trossamfund af Bosniakker i Danmark)
- Albanian Endowment in Denmark (Det Albanske Trossamfund i Danmark)
- Tawhid Islamisk Trossamfund (Islamic Unification Foundation)
- Danish Shia Muslim Endowment (Dansk Shiamuslimsk Trossamfund)
- Albanian Central Mosque (Den Centrale Albanske Moske)
- Mosque of Cordoba (Qurtubah)
Instead, we would like to invite both the Minister for Churches and the Minister for Immigration and Integration to a dialogue meeting at the headquarters of the Danish Muslim Union in Hvidovre, where we will take the initiative to discuss antisemitism, Islamophobia, and hatred against other religious groups. We are ready for dialogue.
We hope that the ministry will take our concerns seriously and work to create the right conditions for a future open and respectful dialogue.
With best regards,
Irfan Zahoor Ahmed
Official Spokesperson, Danish Islamic Union”
