2010 Gathering of the EMU

Wednesday, 02 June 2010 20:43

Skopje, the tradition-steeped capital of Macedonia was the scene of this year’s EMU gathering from 28 May to 30 May 2010.

H.E. Hakan Okcal, Ambassador of Turkey in Skopje; Abu Bakr Rieger, President of the EMU; Prof. Dr. Yalcintas, Honorary President of the EMU at the Opening Session on Saturday

On the evening of Friday, 28 May, the President of the Humanitarian Organisation "El Hilal", Behidjudin Shehabi, and the President of the EMU, Abu Bakr Rieger, greeted around 120 invited guests from all over the Balkans, Russia and  West Europe. The celebratory lecture on "The Significance of the Balkans for European Muslims" was given by the Honorary President of the EMU, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Yalcintas. Yalcintas outlined the traditions of Islam in the region from the past to the present and pointed out the growing potential and significance of the millions of European Muslims.

On Saturday, 29 May, the Ambassador of Turkey in Skopje, H.E. Hakan Okcal received the guests on Saturday with a welcoming speech. Abu Bakr Rieger then presented the main theme of the conference. "The European Muslims do not have an identity crisis and are themselves a proof that there is no contradiction in being both ‘European and Muslim’", he said. "Islam is not in itself a culture, but rather filters existing cultures and produces new, positive cultural relations and connections. The Muslims who speak European languages today represent a constantly growing potential from Kazan to Granada", Rieger added.

Participants at the 2010 Gathering of the EMU from more than ten countries
followed the talks and presentations during the conference

Talks and lectures from Saturday, 29 May on the conference theme "Islam beyond Immigration" will be presented on this site and documented in detail. The talks and lectures dealt with the legal situation of the Muslims in Europe, the role of the mosques, the current financial crisis and the identity of European Muslims.

On Sunday, 30 May, suggestions and comments on the subjects of media, women, economy, youth exchange a.s. were received by the EMU Board from the European Muslims, Imams and NGOs present at the conference. The subsequent workshop dealt with an exchange of experience, the presentation of successful projects and the coordination of joint activities.