'Intercultural dialogue' ignores European Muslims

10.51.53am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 15th Jan 2008

London Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford has criticised European Parliament plans for the EU's 'Year of inter-cultural dialogue' for being confused in objectives, too focussed on religion and overlooking European Muslims.

Speaking from Strasbourg on the day that the Grand Mufti of Syria is due to address MEPs as one of a series of guests, Sarah Ludford said:

"The Year of inter-cultural dialogue should be about more than window-dressing. We need to engage in serious debate, not just have speeches from an eclectic range of public figures."

"The President must not let religious figures dominate the list of invitees, since this is the year of inter-cultural, not inter-faith dialogue. While I look forward to hearing what Pope Benedict, Sir Jonathan Sacks and the Dalai Lama have to say as well as the Grand Mufti of Syria, religion should not be treated as a synonym for culture."

"I am also disappointed that the Grand Mufti of Syria, a person from outside the EU, has been invited in the same breath as the Pope and the British Chief Rabbi. It would have been more appropriate to invite someone from inside Europe to speak about Islam and thereby send a signal that MEPs regard Islam as a mainstream European religion."

"It goes without saying that inter-cultural dialogue relies on both men and women, and I note the shameful fact that of the eight, albeit respected, individuals invited so far, none are women."