WSC-AR Meets with Conference of European Churches to Discuss Hate Crimes
September 1st, 2005 by sfuqua
It is a sad mark of the persistence of ethnic, cultural, and religious
bigotry that so many people continue to paint all Muslims as fanatics and
terrorists, as evidenced by violence against individual Muslims and their
religious institutions. It is equally disturbing that the same brush is
often applied to non-Muslims of North African, Middle Eastern, and Indian
origin, particularly to Sikhs.
July 21, 2005. The Secretary General of
World Sikh Council -
America Region (WSC-AR), Dr. Tarunjit Singh, met with the President of
the Conference of European Churches, Rev. Jean-Arnold de Clermont, on
July 11, 2005 to share concerns over the recent increase in hate crimes
against Sikhs and Muslims in Europe following the London bomb attacks.
The meeting was held in Indianapolis, Indiana during the annual
conference of the National Association of Ecumenical and Interreligious
Staff (NAEIS), July 9 - 13.
Dr. Singh shared with Rev. Clermont the recent attacks on religious
minorities, including Sikhs and Muslims, in Europe and called upon the
Conference of European Churches to work more vigorously with religious
minorities of Europe in reducing religious intolerance.
Rev. Clermont expressed dismay at the incidents of hate and violence in
Europe and offered to work with Sikhs in Europe.
Both leaders agreed that the Sikh and Christian communities of Europe
need to be able to work together on issues of common interest to prevent
religious intolerance and hate crimes.
The NAEIS annual conference also adopted a resolution on July 12 that
stated, “As we unequivocally condemn that horrible act [terrorist attack
in London], we are equally repulsed that others would use violence to
exact revenge. This violence goes against all that our religious
communities teach us about embracing the hands of our neighbors and
living in peace and respect. In this challenging time, we call on all
people of faith and goodwill to engage in more inter-religious dialogue
and collaborative action and pray that this may lead to greater
understanding and awareness.”
Rev. Clermont and Dr. Singh also discussed the French ban on religious
symbols in pubic schools. Rev. Clermont, who is also the President of the
French Protestant Federation, called upon the French Sikh community to
work with his organization in resolving the issue. During the NAEIS
conference, Dr. Singh had expressed concern over the adoption of similar
laws by other European nations.
In response to the small explosions reported today from London, the
WSC-AR calls upon Sikh Gurdwaras, organizations, and individuals in the
US and Europe to be cautious of incidents of hate, prejudice, and
violence, and to promptly report all such occurrences to the local police
and civil rights organizations.
The Conference of European Churches is a fellowship of some 125 Orthodox,
Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches from all countries of
Europe, plus 40 associated organizations. It was founded in 1959. It has
offices in Geneva, Brussels and Strasbourg.
The WSC-AR is a representative and elected body of Sikh Gurdwaras and
institutions in the United States. Its members include 37 Gurdwaras (Sikh
places of worship) and other Sikh institutions across the nation.
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