The European Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance is launched in Copenhagen

Prominent religious leaders and members of civil society from different European countries have gathered together to form a new European organization to tackle increasing religious discrimination and other human rights violations in Europe. The event was hosted in Conference Hall of the Church of Scientology’s European Headquarters in the presence of more than 100 members of the diplomatic corps, politicians, civil servants, religious leaders and human rights advocates, to welcome the establishment of the “European Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance”.

Fabio Amicarelli, the Director of the Church of Scientology International’s European Human Rights Office, was master of ceremonies at the formal opening of the Foundation and introduced the speakers of the presentation, members of the Advisory Board of the Foundation. These included Thøger Berg Nielsen - Danish Police Chief Superintendent (ret.) and human rights advocate, Almog Burstein, Deputy Mayor of Hod Asharon, Israel, Imam Sajid – President of the Moslem Coucil for Interfaith Harmony, Italian catholic scholar Professor Aldo Natale Terrin, from Catholic University in Milano, Atanas Krussteff, Director of the European Law Center, Bulgaria, Daoud Rosser Owen, President of the British Muslims Association, Gibril Deen, Director of the Mahatma Gandhi Human Rights Organization, Hungary.

A special address to the new-born European Foundation was given by member of Danish parliament, Mrs. Karen Klint, Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Church Committee. “We must all help to promote peace and tolerance,” said Mrs. Klint. “We cannot leave this to statesmen, politicians, or other elected representatives.”

The Human Rights and Tolerance 2005 Award has been also assigned during the inauguration event to The Danish Institute for Human Rights and its Executive Director, Morten Kjærum. The award was received on behalf of the Institute by Mrs. Mette Holm who thanked warmly for the acknowledgment and stated that it is not always easy to work in the field of human rights and that a recognition of this kind is an encouragement to continue the work.

In his introductory remarks, Mr. Amicarelli reminded the attendees that “Europe has a long history of religious intolerance and persecution. In the last two thousand years, millions have died because their beliefs conflicted with the authoritative dogma of the time. In the early days of Rome, Christianity was outlawed and Christians put to death unless they renounced it. As the centuries rolled by, the persecuted became the oppressors. Heretics were hunted down by the Inquisition, tortured and killed. In the 17th century, religious intolerance led to the Thirty Year’s War, which decimated Germany and spread to Spain, France and Sweden. World War II and the worst persecution in history – the horrors of the Holocaust – set a record for man’s inhumanity to man.

Danish Advisory Board member of the European Foundation, Thøger Berg Nielsen, Danish Police Chief Superintendent (ret.), recognized the danger of law enforcement and military forces having access to power. Mr. Nielsen has a wide experience in peace-keeping, having served around the world in this capacity with Danish forces. He emphasized the importance of the Foundation to educate and to monitor the activities of law enforcement agencies, not only in hot spots but also in the course of their regular activities.

Daoud Rosser Owen, President of the Association of British Muslims, addressed in his remarks the situation of human rights post 11 September, especially against the Moslem community. He pointed out that the UK government and others in Europe had taken extreme measures, such as arresting over 30,000 in the last year, without any substance to support this. Whilst acknowledging the need for increased security he stressed that these should be balanced he indicated that “During 32 years of actual Irish terrorism, whether by loyalists or republicans, the United Kingdom did not need to do a fraction of what is being done now to confront a largely hypothetical threat.”

Another key speaker was the Deputy Mayor of Hod Hasharon. “In times where there are wars on this planet which seems to stem from religious intolerance, it was truly an impressive diversity of religious leaders which had gathered and who vowed to work together to bring about peace, unity and tolerance,” he said.

In his address to the audience he explained that “Coming from the Middle East, which has been in deep conflict for more than one hundred years, and being a son of a Jewish family who barely survived the Holocaust, I can tell you that not only me, but most of the Israelis, the Palestinians and the citizens of other countries in our region believe in peace, in tolerance and in human rights and are ready to fight for them. All these good people should join forces and work together for this cause.”