The Freedom of Belief

Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and Hindus recognized the freedom of religion established in German Basic Law in a moving peace prayer. 70 years ago on the 23rd of May 1949, the German Constitution came into effect for all people, but especially important for people of faith, with the incredibly important Article 4:

“The freedom of faith and conscience, and the freedom of religion and philosophical creed shall be inviolable. The undisturbed practice of religion shall be guaranteed.”

“Human dignity is sacrosanct”

“This article is a real treasure. Thanks to the mothers and fathers of the Constitution. What wisdom and foresight lies in the articles of the Basic Law. Because human dignity is sacrosanct,” said Andreas Goetze, Regional Church Pastor for Interreligious Dialogue of the Evangelical Church Berlin-Brandenburg-Schlesische Oberlausitz (EKBO), in the central prayer contribution held in the Parochial Church in Berlin Mitte. But in many countries, precisely this freedom of belief is not self-evident. Pastor Goetze: “We are appalled and dismayed by the attacks on synagogues, churches, mosques, Hindu temples and Buddhists monasteries – on people in these houses of worship who had come together peacefully in prayer.”

Rupert Thomas Holborow, Ambassador of New Zealand, knows where it leads when people are not capable of tolerating the freedom of others. The diplomat recalled the Christchurch tragedy during which a man stormed two mosques and shot 51 people. “The reaction to the terrorist attack confirmed for us, that our society must and will stay integrated and compassionate, independent from gender and race,” Holborow said in his moving contribution. “It strengthened the worth of tolerance and basic humanity for us – a proof that we have the ability to bring our better angels to the surface.”

Terror acts against all people

Ahamed Razee, Deputy Ambassador of Sri Lanka, agreed: “Terrorism and extremism have the goal of destroying the peaceful coexistence of all people, which is embodied in resolutions such as our constitutions.” On Easter Sunday, more than 250 people died on the predominately Buddhist island, mainly in Christian churches because of previously placed bombs. Rumours spread quickly that Muslims, a religious minority like Christians and Hindus, were responsible. Razee, a Muslim himself, appealed that, “we should not make the mistake of attributing these attacks to a religion or community, because these attacks are directed against humanity in general. (….) There can only be one answer to this type of terror: we must stand together as one and live and eliminate all differences between us.”

In turn, the ten participating religious leaders read articles from the German Constitution before each said a prayer from his or her own religious tradition. Pakistani musician Zeeshan Sagar Gill, who as a Catholic belongs to an oppressed minority group in his native country, musically accompanied the ceremony.

Participating in the multi-religious prayer:

Rabbi Andreas Nachama, Minister Gregor Hohberg and Imam Kadir Sanci (all from the House of One)

Andreas Goetze (Pastor for Interreligious Dialogue of EKBO)

Bernd Streich (Diocesan Council of Catholics)

Imam Taha Sabri (Dar Assalam Mosque)

Haladhara Thaler (Hindu Community Berlin and the Berlin Forum of Religion)

Cordula Machoni (St. Petri-St. Marien Congregation)

Michael Bäumer (Buddhist Soka Gakkai Community Berlin)

Archimandrite Emmanuel Sfiatkos (Greek-Orthodox Metropolis of Berlin-Brandenburg)

Cantor Esther Hirsch (Synagogue Sukkat Schalom)

In honor and remembrance of the numerous dead, the religious leaders read the names of the places in the world where believers experience persecution, attacks or discrimination.