GERMANY
On 5 November, the representatives of Cologne’s Jews, Christians and Muslims met in the city’s town hall to sign a peace pledge in the presence of over 300 guests and of the Mayor, Fritz Schramma, who sponsored the initiative. The leaders of the three religions declared their opposition to any kind of incitement to violence, their wish to actively dedicate themselves to the cause of peace and contribute to better mutual understanding through education aimed at removing prejudices. This is the first time the three religions have publicly expressed themselves in unison in Cologne, to declare their total commitment to ensuring “that hatred and violence be overcome and that the citizens of Cologne and throughout the world be able to live in peace, security, justice and freedom”, says the document signed by the Imam of the Turkish-Islamic Union of Cologne, Saban Kondi, Rabbi Netanel Teitelbaum of the synagogue of Cologne, and Hannelore, Bartscherer, chairperson of the Catholic committee of Cologne. The signatories declare their wish to transmit the principles of the “peace pledge of Cologne” in their own communities and turn it into an everyday reality. The expressed objective is to persuade other cities and districts to join the initiative and other communities and individual citizens to sign the pledge, which is the outcome of the project “Do you know who I am?”, established with the aim of pledging the three great religions to peaceful coexistence.
