World News – GB – World’s largest imam NGO adopts universal definition of anti-Semitism

(Oct 29, 2020 / JNS) The world’s largest non-governmental organization of imams, the Global Imams Council (GIC), has adopted the widely accepted definition of anti-Semitism from the International Alliance for remembrance of the Holocaust (IHRA)

The board of trustees, senior imam committee and council advisory committee voted unanimously on Monday to adopt the IHRA definition This was followed by an overwhelming majority vote the same day by the general council of imams and council members from all over the world

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Council members consist of more than 1,000 imams of all faiths and schools of Islamic thought, according to its website

Adoption of IHRA definition went into effect on Thursday This makes the GIC the first Council of Imams to do so, after Albania, which last week became the first Muslim-majority country to adopt the definition

The IHRA definition says: « Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which can be expressed as hatred towards Jews Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed at individuals, whether Jewish or not Jews and / or their property, to Jewish community institutions and religious facilities « 

The definition accepted by the IHRA, an intergovernmental organization comprising dozens of member countries, is an internationally recognized classification of anti-Semitism It will be binding on all current and future members of the GIC, including all mosques, centers , council-affiliated institutes and organizations run by council imams around the world Affiliates number in the hundreds, according to GIC website

In a statement, the ICG said the adoption of the definition came after receiving a letter from the office of US Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism Elan Carr, calling on the council to do so. , and after receiving requests from “influential and prominent members of the public concerned about the rise of anti-Semitism; and the importance of defining and combating this form of extremism which has led to terrorism « 

The chairman of the Global Imams Council, Imam al-Budair, told the JNS that his organization « is determined to strengthen the bridges of peace between Islam and all religions. This is what sets us apart from Islamist extremists who tarnished the image of our religion « 

« Our board welcomed the invitation to adopt the IHRA’s working definition of anti-Semitism, and I am proud to report that our board did so through a successful democratic referendum. » , he added « We understand the importance of the clerical presence in these peace developments, and we thank the US Department of State and Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism for this opportunity to create positive change. « 

In a letter to GIC, US Deputy Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism, Ellie Cohanim, said, “I look forward to the opportunity to work with you to take this historic milestone that will pave the way for stronger Jewish-Muslim relations and help overcome anti-Semitism and hatred in the world »

Brooke Goldstein, executive director of the Lawfare Project, which has worked with several governments and NGOs, including GIC to encourage adoption of the IHRA definition, told JNS: “This is a historic victory for tolerance and international cooperation in the fight against anti-Semitism Recognizing the IHRA’s definition of anti-Semitism is essential to address the unique challenges of today’s sinister and covert anti-Semitism We need all the tools available to ending hatred of Jews around the world, and the IHRA definition helps us achieve that « 

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International Alliance for the Remembrance of the Holocaust, anti-Semitism, working definition of anti-Semitism, student