More than two dozen personalities from academia, politics and civil society have already signed the Young Islam Conference’s appeal, which was presented in January. Frieder Otto Wolf, President of the Humanist Association of Germany, is one of the supporters of the appeal.
The task of the future Enquete Commission is to develop models for the diverse immigration society and concepts for equal opportunities for all people living in Germany. Esra Kücük, head of the Young Islam Conference (JIK), said at the launch of the call: “The increasing devaluation of minorities in the center of society and the Europe-wide rise of right-wing populist parties show that we need forward-looking and sustainable socio-political models for coexistence and cohesion in Germany.” The aim is to establish a cross-party working group dedicated to Germany’s transformation into an immigration society and to develop sustainable and forward-looking solutions to the challenges of this transformation. The approval of a quarter of all members of the German Bundestag is required to set up the Enquete Commission. Since 1971, a total of 27 commissions of inquiry have been set up by the Bundestag. On signing the call for a Commission of Inquiry on “Diversity and Social Participation”, Frieder Otto Wolf explained: “As humanists, we welcome the diversity of an open immigration society as an opportunity and would like to contribute to others understanding this as well. We welcome people who have found a new home in our country and those who seek protection from threats to their lives or fundamental human rights. We should be guided by universal human rights and by the fundamental moral and ethical principles that are or have been recognized in all highly developed cultures when we shape and take responsibility for our coexistence together.” The Young Islam Conference was launched in 2006 on the initiative of the Mercator Foundation and the Humboldt University of Berlin as a nationwide dialog forum and multiplier network for young people aged 17 to 25. The aim of the JIK is for young people and young adults with and without a migration background and with and without religious beliefs to enter into a joint intercultural dialog. The aim is to promote mutual understanding and tolerance, which are the basis for successful coexistence. The JIK Federal Conference takes place annually in the run-up to the German Islam Conference and is intended to communicate the concerns and ideas of young people to representatives of federal politics. Most recently, in August and September 2013, around 50 pupils and students from all over Germany came together in Berlin to gain experience in intervening in social debates through simulation games.
