Jewish and Muslim leaders in Europe have announced the establishment of the Muslim-Jewish Leadership Council (MJLC), the first joint council of its kind to fight for religious freedom on the continent, with its founding conference taking place this week in Vienna.

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The council was founded in light of repeated attempts to impose restrictions on circumcisions and ritual animal slaughter in the EU countries. Participating in the Muslim-Jewish Leadership Council (MJLC) are the Conference of European Rabbis, the World Islamic Relief Organization, the Islamic Council of the Republic of Germany and the King Abdullah International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID).

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The initiators of the council said that it was an initial platform from which leaders of the two religions would work together to confront EU institutions and governments in order to promote understanding and respect, and enable the exchange of information essential to local and national religious communities' needs, concerns, and challenges.

The Muslim-Jewish Leadership Council (Photo: KAICIID)

The new council's first statement addressed the most urgent issue on the continent, and said: "The European refugees are denied shelter, medical assistance, transit and transport. This crisis contradicts the values of human dignity upon which a united Europe is based. Due to inaction, refugees have become the victims of hardened criminals, who are responsible for a number of shocking deaths."

"We call upon policymakers in Europe to take action in order to handle these refugees decently and humanely while they wait for a safe haven. At the same time, we commend the private efforts of many individuals and religious communities to support the refugees. We call on the interior ministers of the European Union to meet on September 14 to take the practical and urgent steps needed to end this crisis."

The right of minorities to freedom of religion

Pinchas Goldschmidt, President of the Conference of European Rabbis, and co-founder of the new council, said that it will serve, among other things, as a resource for authoritative and trusted information with a legal basis upon which religious clerics can act: "Together we will be able to develop an innovative and creative approach when dealing with EU institutions and governments in Europe, that will ensure the continued observance of our religion."

"The Council will work to gain the confidence of young people through appropriate public relations that will bring prosperity in Europe - in tandem with a life of faith and meaning," said Goldschmidt. The founders also said that it will promote building bridges between communities in the future, engage in education and initiate joint publications on issues of religion and current affairs in Europe and the world.

Ibrahim al Ziit, former director general of the World Islamic Relief Organization, said that "the Jewish and Muslim communities have a common heritage and a shared history. The Muslim-Jewish Leadership Council is a necessity since we have witnessed repeated attempts to limit the freedom of religion."

"As believers, we must fight for the right of religious minorities to religious freedom. If we stand united, we will be better able to protect our rights. But if we are detached, we will lose our right to fully observe the commandments of our religion."

Fahed Abu-Nasser, Director General of KAICIID, who hosted the founding convention, called it "a great honor" and said that his organization was proud to take part in establishing the authority of both Muslims and Jews to fight over the religious rights of minorities, and to promote interfaith dialogue in Europe.