NSS First Woman To Address European Parliament On Religious Matters
A historic precedent was set at the European parliament today [18 June]. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Mrs Asma Jahangir, addressed the European Parliament, much as religious leaders such as the Pope and the Grand Mufti of Syria have done.
Sophie in’t Veld MEP, Chair of the European Parliament Working Party for the Separation of Religion and Politics, said: “I welcome the European Parliament’s invitation to Mrs Jahangir. The religious leaders who have addressed the European Parliament have all been men, and so are not representative of their religious groups, far less of the population as a whole.
“They have not been asked to answer questions, hardly the open dialogue envisaged by the Treaty of Lisbon.”