The Liberal-Islamischer Bund e.V. (LIB) („Liberal Islamic Federation e.V.“) unites and represents Muslim citizens who opine that their liberal understanding of Islam has not been hitherto adequately represented in the debates and political processes in Germany. Thus, the issues and demands of LIB are addressed both to policy makers and to society as a whole. LIB furthermore wishes to contribute to the initiation of a (long overdue) discussion within the Islamic community. Many Muslims who are at home in Germany/Europe no longer feel that their religious views are reflected (solely) by the understanding of Islam prevalent in their parents’ countries of origin. Germany/Europe is the centre of their lives. Within the pluralistic society of Germany and Europe they are a quantitively significant group that seeks to assert its right to public recognition and to take on the attendant responsibility.
The theological basis for the representation of liberal Muslims in Germany can be reduced to a single common denominator: the shahâda, the Islamic statement of belief. With the shahâda one testifies the belief in the One God and in Muhammad as God’s Messenger. It is improper to require dogmatic and cultural uniformity on any matter going beyond this core principle. In general, the Federation seeks to create a climate in which Muslims are able to interpret the Qur’an and the Sunnah free of fear, openly, and in accordance with the dictates of their conscience. The Federation advocates acceptance and equal treatment of diverse and self-determined ways of life consistent with the German constitution (Grundgesetz), and is convinced that fostering intra-Islamic pluralism simultaneously promotes pluralism in German/European society as a whole.
LIB is non-partisan. It encourages its members to participate in German/European society and politics, and seeks to support this participation. The self-evident core prerequisites for the representation of liberal Muslims in Germany are a commitment to the free democratic basic order and the equality in rights and dignity of all genders. Political participation is further based on combating racism, anti-Islamic sentiment, and anti-Semitism. It also follows from the commitment to pluralism that an exclusive claim to truth vis-à-vis other religions should be reflected upon, qualified or given up.
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