Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and representatives of other religious communities have made a joint appeal to clearly position themselves against right-wing parties: Anyone who spreads hatred and incitement is not eligible for election by religious people.
Several religious communities in Germany have once again emphasized the incompatibility of religion and right-wing extremism. “Right-wing extremist parties cannot be elected by religious people,” says a joint statement from nine religious communities.
Groups or parties that spread hatred and incitement should not be supported. “Any form of racism, whether in the form of violence, discrimination, exclusion or degradation, is incompatible with the basic values of religions and spirituality,” the statement continues.
No honorary or full-time positions for right-wing extremists
The religious communities also emphasize that people who spread inhumane, fanatical and right-wing extremist slogans should not be given any voluntary or full-time positions. These included racist as well as anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim statements.
According to the information, the signatories include the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), the Central Council of Muslims, the Central Council of the Yazidis, the German Buddhist Union, the National Spiritual Council of the Baha’i, the Council of Sikhi and the regional association of Alevi communities in Hesse, the regional association of Jewish communities in Hesse and the Berlin Hindu community.
Separation of Catholics from AfD as early as February
They made their comments with a view to the International Week Against Racism, which is taking place with events nationwide until March 24th under the motto “Human Rights for All”. In total, more than 4,000 events with over 250,000 people are planned. More than 1,900 religious celebrations and prayers call for overcoming racism, anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim racism.
The German Catholic Bishops’ Conference had already unanimously adopted a declaration at the end of February entitled “Ethnic nationalism and Christianity are incompatible”. In this, the bishops distance themselves from the AfD and describe it as unelectable for Christians. The acting council chairwoman of the Evangelical Church, Kirsten Fehrs, also agreed with this warning.