Today, humanists in Germany also share in the suffering of the people affected by the recent terrorist attacks and mourn with the families of the dead. Despite the horrific acts, there must be no room for reflexes of revenge. European society, non-religious and religious citizens alike, must work together to effectively oppose the murderous ideology and its deluded henchmen.
In doing so, they must not allow themselves to be blinded into equating IS with Islam or into starting an unlimited “war on terror” that escalates conflicts without developing clearly definable strategic objectives. Above all, it is clear that all efforts to pacify the situation and find a peaceful solution to the underlying conflicts must be intensified. This also includes supporting progressive Islamic forces in their efforts for peace, freedom and humanity. We humanists clearly oppose all political forces that use these terrible murders in Paris as a pretext to repeat the mistakes of the “war on terror” at European level or even in the spirit of a “war of civilizations” and to open hostilities against all Muslims.
