Praise be to Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger, who was sent as a mercy to all creatures.

In light of the massacres and genocidal war perpetrated by the Israeli occupation authorities in the Gaza Strip, which targeted hospitals, schools and sparing neither children nor elderly people, and severed all means of life including water, electricity, and medicine,

The European Council of Imams affirms the following:

1. The Council condemns the disturbing international complicity, which has reached the point of encouraging the Israeli occupation authorities to commit further massacres and terrorize the Palestinian people. Furthermore, the Council denounces the double standards of the Western world in dealing with the Palestinian issue. It has not only settled for equating the occupier with the occupied but also granted the occupation authorities absolute powers to defend themselves and commit all these massacres, while depriving the Palestinian people under occupation of any means of protection and basic necessities of life.
2. The war, destruction and targeting of civilians and the innocent in Palestine are unacceptable to any human being who believes in human dignity and freedom, and contradict the teachings of Islam which call for peace and coexistence based on truth and justice. The occupation and the brutal blockade imposed on the people of Gaza can only lead to unpredictable reactions.
3. According to international law, the existing tension in the Palestinian territory is a result of the oppressive occupation of Palestinian lands, the displacement of its inhabitants and the violation of their sanctities. Any attempt to resolve the issue without justice for Palestinians and guaranteeing their rights would not be effective, rather opens the door to new rounds of conflict.
4. The European Council of Imams emphasizes the principles of Islam calling for peace, renouncing war, and refraining from aggression and targeting women, children and the vulnerable in times of conflict.
5. The European Council of Imams condemns the growing trends in Europe to restrict the freedom of expression and justify it with fabricated reasoning.

The Council is astonished by how the European arena is filled with official and media expressions of support for the siege of Gaza, killing children, demolishing hospitals and homes, and thousands of fighters from Europe joining the Israeli occupation army. Yet at the same time, the media restricts and persecutes any opinion or expression of condemnation of Israeli massacres or support for the natural rights of the oppressed Palestinian people.

• The European Council of Imams asserts that all parties have the right to express their positions on international issues, support liberation causes, and denounce injustice within the framework of laws.
• Condemning injustice is a humanitarian stance that should not diminish religions and beliefs. Islam respects religious diversity and does not antagonize anyone based on their religion or beliefs. Expressing opinions should not be a path to threatening security and undermining mutual coexistence in society.

Finally, the European Council of Imams stands with the right of the Palestinian people to determine their destiny, liberate their land, and protect their sanctities. It also condemns the policy of revenge and collective punishment, which amounts to heinous war crimes according to International law.

The European Council urges all its members to play their role in promoting adherence to values and principles as well as guiding Muslims to support their causes within the legal regulations and Islamic guidelines.

We pray to Allah, the Almighty, to spare the world the woes of war and destruction, to preserve the Muslims, restore their rights and sanctities, and repel the schemes of aggressors.

The European Council of Imams

October 11, 2023