LOC18:15
15:15 GMT
BRUSSELS, June 27 (KUNA) -- European Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans warned Tuesday of the increasing hatred against Muslims in Europe and called for dialogue to promote better understanding between different faiths.
Speaking at a conference with religious leaders on the future of Europe held in the European Parliament, he noted that in the past in Europe there were confrontations among Christians themselves and for centuries there was anti-Semitism.
Jews were made scapegoats whenever something was going on in European societies which led to people to be afraid or uncertain about their future, he said.
"We have the relatively new phenomenon of anti-Muslim hatred which is now increasing in many of our member states," said Timmerman, a former Dutch foreign minister.
"Whenever fear becomes the dominating factor in societies politics becomes easy to manipulate. This leads to anger and anger leads to scapegoating others" he stated.
He called for dialogue and to listen to each other, saying "nobody has the monopoly on what is right and nobody has the monopoly on what is wrong. We all make mistakes". (end)
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