The Danish politician and president of European Muslim Initiative for Social Cohesion (EMISCO), Bashy Quraishy stressed during our conference the importance of the right of self-determination and vehemently stepped against any form of criminalization in this respect. He also stressed on the importance of education, including spiritual education. His speech can be found here:

Freedom of conscience and belief at a crossroads in Europe - self-determination and spiritual teachings

Bashy Quraishy
Secretary General - European Muslim Initiative For Social Cohesion

Thank you so much for the kind invitation.

Soteria’s events are becoming more and more essential, timely and beneficial not only to its own members, sister movements but also would help to shed light on the discrimination being faces by larger religions, like my own-Islam.

For that, please my heartfelt thanks to the organizers.

I have had long but peaceful discussions with my dear friend Lukas about the contribution, I can make to bring some of my own experiences to this round table. Lukas is a philosophically inclined person who looks at human rights issues from various angels where as I am a practitioner who is one track minded.

So please bear with me if I am direct and not so intricate or subtle.

This round table has an overarching theme of:
Self-determination, Mind Manipulation and Religious Teachings.
But hidden in this grand vision are many sub themes, which need answers. It is here; I shall make an effort to provide some useful clues.

What are those smaller but equally important issues, we need to tackle here.
• Criminalization of free thinking is not an option in an open society,
• Self-determination and how it can be achieved and secured by a strong individual freedom of thought, conscience and belief.
• Should authorities have a role in strengthening the freedom of thought, conscience and belief?
• Where do spiritual teachings fit in the scheme of things?
• Can we relate to best practices, which are out there?

To sum up, we have to look at the needs of an individual, the importance of the religion and the role of the state. Add to that society’s needs contra state obligations towards an individual.

Enlightenment of an individual

Many centuries back, the great German thinker and philosopher, Emmanuel Kant said: Enlightenment is the freedom from our self-imposed prison. So have the courage to use your own intelligence. This is therefore the motto of the enlightenment.”

Freedom for an individual however requires a space where he/she can operate freely without barriers, harassment, intimidation, and unnecessary guidance from others and of course with a responsible attitude towards the surroundings. Freedom of expression, thought and action is not a question of right but is a tool to enable one to think freely. Since sum of individuals makes a society, thus an individual’s actions, ability to act, think freely and express is under responsible behaviour and always for the for the good of the society. If not, then our action will become self-centred and limited in scope and without broader acceptance. In short, we create our own reality and truth. The question of Truth and Clarity was also on the mind of an eminent Danish thinker and scientist; Niels Bohr. He however thought that truth is not relevant in the pursuance of clarity.

I believe that we must ponder the issue of; Truth searching through clarity of mind or truth in itself leading to a clear thinking thus making it easy for an individual to relate to it.

For that to happen, re-education of humanity is Alpha and Omega. Education, which is spiritual in nature, humane in character and inclusive, timeless and beneficial for all. Education for me is not only, to be qualified to have a job or a career but that it also is useful to form a decent and loving person, who is able to think for him/herself as well as for the fellow human being. Such a person in my opinion would not be prone to mental manipulation, intellectual subjugation or financial exploitation.

Here I want to quote a great Indian/Pakistani philosopher and poet, Dr. Mohammad Iqbal. He asked the individual to elevate his/her SELF Consciousness to such heights that even GOD would ask the man: what do you want from me?

What is needed in the European Context?
• State should provide level playing field for all religions – funding, societal acceptance, possibility of propagation, legal protection against demonization and media hatred
• No religion should have privileges based on historical traditions and state protection.
• State should give up the role of a tough father but instead be a loving mother in its treatment of all religious movements. It means that it must give up its part in criminalizing those who challenge Status Quo. We live in a rapidly changing world, globalization and Internet age. Those who want to maintain the status quo are the ones who are often resistant to progress. But it is not the duty of the state to favor some religions while discriminate others. People may resent you for disrupting the status quo. That is OK. It is their right. But Governments are for all citizens. They must not be selective in their treatment, nor should they provide support-financial and moral - to those NGOs and individuals who take upon themselves to monitor, observe and publically try to discredit new religions. They can do it with their own resources if they so wish.
• State must stop discrimination and categorizing people according to religion, small or big, popular or traditional.

Religion

State and religion relationship in Europe is very confusing. In most European countries, they try to project the image of neutrality by the secular state and religious non-interference from majority-established religions, basically Christianity. The reality is the opposite. Even in France, the pantheon of the declared secularity, Catholicism plays an important role.

State’s job should be to support an individual through various means so that a good citizen is able to take change of its life.

New religious movements should be observed for the good of the mankind but with neutrality and objectivity and not with suspicion and control.

There are now efforts on the EU level where discrimination on the basis of religion or belief comes under hate crimes and Vivianne Reding, the EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship has recently said in the European Parliament that EU needs a new narrative now.

Let us hope that she can convince national states to listen to her. That will make the European dream of an individual’s freedom to live according to his/her conscience come true.

The truth is that there is no point of have a freedom if the ability to exercise it, is not there. For an example, what good is to vote if the options to choose from is lacking.

I cannot help narrating Immanuel Kant again.

He said; “Act so that your principle of action might safely be made a law for the whole world”.

In short, Kant is telling us that real freedom is inside of us. It helps us to challenge our own preconceived ideas, inherited by family or society, before we take on the world.

In this effort, we must be resolute and again, in the words of Kant: “Seek not the favor of the multitude; it is seldom got by honest and lawful means. But seek the testimony of few; and number not voices, but weigh them”.

To end this talk, I have a direct appeal to all those who are working with religious discrimination, prejudices and against demonization of human rights of all kind, we cannot have our voice heard in the society, listened to by the authorities or even help those who are in dire need if we are not united. In October Conference in Brussels, I have asked for the creation of a common Platform to promote our ideas, propagate our vision and support each other in our hour of need.

My organization - EMISCO will do all, it can to convey the message, strengthen our efforts and support each time, and its contact is required.