Brussels, 10/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - In a speech to the European Parliament on Tuesday 10 March in Strasbourg, King Abdullah II of Jordan called on the European Union to fight against Islamophobia.
The King underlined the importance of mutual respect and highlighted the fact that “Europe is an important partner in this effort - especially in helping to stop the global rise of Islamophobia. This poison is based on false ideas and plays into the hands of these extremists”.
The King of Jordan pointed out that the Muslim religion demanded respect and caring for others and explained that the terrorists' motive was not faith but power. He explained that Jordan and other Arab and Muslim countries were not only defending their people but their faith and that this was a struggle that had to be carried out by Muslim countries, above all. He also warned that the danger of extremism had to be considered as it actually is, a global phenomenon. The King explained that victory against the terrorists depended on unity and that “Europe's role is vital. Only by cooperation can our regions shut down the sources of terrorist support and defeat their purposes”.
Abdullah II of Jordan also returned to the subject of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians and asked why the world did not defend the rights of the Palestinians. According to the King, this conflict provides the extremists with “a powerful rallying cry. They exploit the injustices and the lingering conflict, to build legitimacy and recruit foreign fighters across Europe and the world”. The Jordanian King believes that the “this failure sends a dangerous message. It erodes trust in international law and community. It threatens a pillar of world peace: that conflict must be solved by political means - not by force, not by violence”. He added: “How can we fight the ideological battle, if we do not chart the way forward towards Palestinian-Israeli peace?”
The King also indicated that radicalism was nourished by economic insecurity and exclusion. Jordan believes that development is a priority and the King told the MEPs that “Jordan values a strong partnership with the European Union and its member states and we are committed, with your support, to work towards more advanced levels of partnership”. The King explained that Jordan had now taken in 1.4 million Syrian refugees, which accounted for 20% of the country's population.
King Abdullah concluded: “History, geography and future bind us. Let no one separate us. Together, we can create pillars of mutual respect that will support the common good for generations to come”. (Camille-Cerise Gessant and Emmanuel Hagry)