Islamic and Jewish representatives oppose the extreme right in Europe

AFP reports that leading Islamic and Jewish representatives have expressed their common will to stand up to rising ultra-right political parties in Europe. At a meeting in Paris today they adopted a declaration in which they say it is unacceptable to trivialize these racist and xenophobic parties and warn against the growing danger they pose to ethnic and religious minorities on the continent.

The coordinating council of Islamic and Jewish leaders from Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the United States and other countries also announced it will launch a series of public events in European capitals on 9 May in honor of Europe Day. The council held its first meeting in December 2010 in Brussels.

Participants at today’s meeting, whose main organizers include the World Jewish Congress, condemned the fact that extremist and xenophobic parties in the Netherlands and elsewhere have become partners in coalition governments. They also expressed uneasiness over the recent claims by high representatives of Britain, France, and Germany that multiculturalism in their countries has proven to be bankrupt.