Mediation to resolve tensions in interfaith organization
Published: Thursday, Nov 16th 2023, 08:50
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The tensions within the Interreligious Association Switzerland (IRAS), which were triggered by the Middle East war and the IRAS President's membership of the Swiss-Palestinian Society (GSP), are to be resolved through mediation. The mediation process starts on Friday.
At the request of the Keystone-SDA news agency, both the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities (SIG) and IRAS Managing Director Katja Joho said that they all wanted to sit down together on Friday to look for solutions.
According to the SIG, the membership of the two Jewish representatives on the IRAS board is still suspended. However, the Jewish member organizations currently remain members of the IRAS. "We hope that amicable solutions will ultimately be found during the mediation process," the SIG added.
The two Jewish representatives on the IRAS board, including SIG Secretary General Jonathan Kreutner, left the national network around ten days ago in protest. They demanded that IRAS President Rifa'at Lenzin resign either as IRAS President or as a member of the Swiss-Palestinian Society (GSP).
Since the major attack by the Islamist Hamas in Gaza over a month ago, the position of the GSP has become even more radicalized, the SIG noted. Lenzin was asked to "unequivocally" distance himself from Hamas' orgy of violence and from the perpetrators. According to the SIG, Lenzin has not commented on this publicly in the meantime.
Ten days ago, following a board meeting without the two Jewish representatives, the IRAS board announced that it was appalled by the events in Israel-Palestine since October 7. IRAS condemns "any hostility towards Jews and Muslims". Sympathy is extended to all victims of the violence and their families.
IRAS was founded 31 years ago as an association. Its members are around 80 religious communities and organizations that are committed to interreligious dialogue - including from the Alevi, Baha'i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh communities.
©Keystone/SDA
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