Speeches
Ambassador Cain’s remarks, 40th Anniversary, Nusrat Djahan Mosque, Hvidovre
Salaam Aleikum.
Imam Basharat, Mr. Minister, Members of Parliament, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for inviting me. I appreciate this expression of friendship and hospitality. It is an honor for me to join you on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Nusrat Djahan Mosque.
Moments such as this anniversary help clarify who we are as people and what we want for the world. This mosque exemplifies the very best of the Danish traditions of openness and tolerance. And it shows that people of different faiths and background can live together peacefully.
This brings to mind my first visit to a Danish mosque back in March of 2006, when Imam Zisan Corap invited me to visit Ishøj's Mosque. My conversation with Imam Corap and members of his community convinced me that Muslim believers want peace and a dialogue with those who adhere to other faiths.
As an American, this is something that I believe in very deeply. We live in a time when doubts are expressed about America and our intentions in the world. But those who seek a true understanding of my country and its relationship to Islam need look no further than our Constitution. Freedom of religion is the very first protection offered in America's Bill of Rights. And the encouragement of religious faith and belief in a single creator is enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.
Freedom to worship is so central to the American belief system that we tend to take it personally when that freedom is denied to others. Our country was a leading voice on behalf of Jewish dissidents in the Soviet Union. Americans joined in common cause with Catholics and Protestants who prayed in secret behind the Iron Curtain. America has stood with Muslims seeking to freely practice their faith in places such as Burma and China.
And our President invited American Muslim leaders to the White House just two weeks after the 9/11 attacks to show our kinship and respect for the Muslim faith.
Civilization owes some of its most important achievements to the Islamic world. From fundamental discoveries in medicine, mathematics and astronomy, the Muslim genius has added much to the culture of all peoples. That genius has been a source of great creativity in science, commerce and the arts. It has also provided many lessons in courage and hospitality. We see that hospitality very much in evidence here today.
The greatest challenge now facing people of faith and conscience is to help the forces of moderation win the struggle against extremism that is now playing out across the Middle East. We have seen the expansion of the concept of religious freedom and individual rights in every region of the world – except one. In the Middle East, we have witnessed instead the rise of groups of extremists who seek to use religion as a path to power and as a means of domination.
The United States admires those many, many Muslims who have spoken out against extremists. We salute those who have denounced the organizations that use Islam -- or better said misuse this proud religion -- to fund and support acts of violence. The struggle against terrorism and fanaticism is one that we will win, but we will win it together.
We have made it a core mission of our Embassy to engage with all Danish citizens, Muslims, Christians and those of other faiths. I've played basketball, floorball and football with young people in Mjolnerparken, Vollsmose, and Gellerup. We're sponsoring high school exchange scholarships in the U.S. for young people from multiethnic neighborhoods. We've organized study tours for professionals -- on topics such as dealing with the school drop-out problem in immigrant neighborhoods – where we believe that the U.S. has experience to share.
This fall, I'm working with friends from the business community, the foundation world , the American and Danish sponsor leagues, and the Danish government to launch a 2008 summer camp program for young people from these same immigrant neighborhoods, using the power of sports to bring boys and girls from different faiths together, first on the playing fields and then beyond in larger Danish society. This unuqie program is in Denmark's interest, America's interest, and the interest of all who believe in diversity and peace.
Today, here in Copenhagen – in this place of free worship, in the heart of a free country - I want to congratulate the Nusrat Djahan Mosque on its 40th anniversary. But I also want to congratulate Copenhagen and the whole of Denmark. For this mosque is a wonderful symbol of respect for people of a different faith who practice their deeply held religious beliefs in peaceful co-existence with people of other faiths.
Imam Basharat, Mr. Minister, and friends of faith, thank you and God bless this house and all of you.