Inledningsanförande vid Anna Lindh-seminariet den 20 oktober 2007

Bommersvik, Stockholm

Det talade ordet gäller!

Ladies and gentlemen.
Dear friends.

I am proud to be here.

Welcome to this annual seminar, the third in a row, named after Anna Lindh.

Welcome to Bommersvik, a very special venue for the Labour movement in Sweden. We celebrate the 70th anniversary here this weekend.  

This year the seminar will focus on a very difficult issue: the relation between religion and politics. 

Where would Anna Lindh have searched for the answers confronted with questions like these? In the individual experience, I think, because of its general meaning.

To make my point, let me quote Anna Lindh in a speech in September 1999:

“Prejudice must be met with a combination of knowledge, personal experience and confidence building dialogue. There are reasons for all of us to adopt the old Indian proverb: “Never judge a brother until you have walked two turns of the moon in his moccasins”

For Anna, the individual were at the core of every issue.
Human dignity and rights.
Violations and oppression the opponents in the fight.
Democracy the means.

* * *

We live in a globalised world and in multicultural societies. Societies with people with different traditions, beliefs and faiths, or people with a lack of faith.

Diversity makes society stronger in the long run, we all know that. But old prejudice often raises barriers between people. Where old meets new, known meets un-known, there are often clashes.

Almost everywhere, religious movements are thriving. Religion offers something very important to people and society. Something that we often wishes to be better at in our movement, the Labour movement – to add meaning and course, to add values, to offer a community, something bigger to be a part of.

The challenge for policy-makers is to harness the unifying potential of faith, while containing its capacity to divide.

This requires, at a minimum, that we see spiritual matters as a subject worth studying. This is important for everyone, if you are religious yourself or not. The fundamental right to believe is also the fundamental right not to believe.

A favourite expression of mine expressing this with respect and humility was said by one of my favorite politicians Chile’s president Michelle Bachelet: “I have not been blessed with the gift of faith”.

* * *

Religion has often been a blind spot in political administrations. We have simply not put enough effort into cultivating this kind of expertise. And this does not only count for Sweden.

Given the nature of today’s world, knowledge of this type is essential – effective foreign policy requires that we comprehend why others act as they do.

Former secretary of state Madeleine Albright, wrote in her book “The mighty and the almighty” that she had an entire bureau of economic experts she could turn to, and – and I quote –  “a cadre of experts on non-proliferation and arms control whose mastery of  technical jargon earned them a nickname, “the priesthood”.

But when it came to expertise for integrating religious principles into efforts at diplomacy there was practically no one to ask.

We need to do our homework. As politicians we need to have a better and deeper dialogue with religious representatives.

To mention one example, the knowledge of Islam is very thin in several European countries today. This has created a basis for islamofobic tendencies.

For instance, a future membership of Turkey into the EU has therefore been controversial in many member states. The Swedish view is that it is “when” rather than “if” Turkey will become a member.

Europe is not and can not be a closed Christian club.

Of course nine eleven contributed to divide and to increase fear. As well as the often simplified media description of Muslims.

This is of course devastating, since it just cements the alienation and increases the gap between “us” and “them” – in itself a hotbed for religious fundamentalism and islamofobia.

But as Olof Palme said it: “there are no ‘them’, there are just ‘us’”

* * *

Dear friends,

Religion is a powerful force.
But its impact depends entirely on what it inspires people to do.

Religion can in many ways contribute to the building of a good society for all. But every powerful force can be wrongfully used, and thereby become a poison. That is true for politics as well as religion. 

Too often women’s bodies are made into a battlefield of politicians. The American Christian right-wing with its aggressive pro-life activities is one example. For many women this is a matter of life or death.

With their support the American Bush administration reintroduced the "gag-rule" in January 2001. The gag rule forbids voluntary organizations to perform or give women counselling on abortion. The rule is also preventing voluntary workers to assist women to go to abortion clinics. It was also introduced to stop organizations lobbying for more liberal abortion laws.

Today only a minority of Americas 50 states offer free abortion. In Ireland, as well as in Poland and Malta, abortion is banned. In Portugal, midwives have been charged with and found guilty of performing illegal abortions. Also in the Middle East abortion is criminal in a number of countries.

We also know that every day more than 400 women die as a result of illegal, unsafe abortions, which constitutes 13 percent of all maternal deaths around the world. Every day 400 women.

In a world where women's rights are human rights, abortion must be free. Every woman must have the power to decide over her own body.
It is unacceptable to use religion to violate human rights.

* * *

Dear friends,

When talking about religion and politics it is almost inevitable to mention the Middle East.

In the beginning of September I walked on Via Dolorosa in the Olf Town of Jerusalem guided by Munib Younan, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Jordan and the Holy Land. Mr Younan is a marvelous person. He is born in the Old Town of Jerusalem; he knows every corner, every door, every child in the Old Town, every person.

He took me throw the Armenian, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Quarters. From church to church – from the Al Aqsa mosque to the Wailing Wall.

He told me that, even if it was difficult, the religious leaders within the Old Town were able to communicate and to coordinate activities.

A real life evidence that it is possible to live side by side – to tolerate and respect each other. If it works in the Old Town of Jerusalem – there are no one who can say that it won’t work anywhere else in the Middle East. No one.

That was my first official visit outside Europe as the party leader. Two days at the West Bank – two days in Israel.

I visited the refugee camps in Jenin and Qualquilja and the Israeli Tel Aviv and Sederot, the village on the border to the Gaza strip under constant attack of Qassam rockets. And we also saw one of the attacks.

I truly regret that the Swedish government and the EU did not take the opportunity to co-operate with the Palestinian unity government earlier this year. The EU and the Swedish Conservative government did not help president Abbas when he was stretching out his hand.

Instead the conflict escalated in Gaza and we have all heard about the terrible circumstances for the people of Gaza. More than 80 % in Gaza are totally dependent on daily humanitarian support to survive.

The objective for Sweden’s and the European Union’s politics for the region must be free, stable and democratic states where respect for human rights comes first.

The war in Iraq and the continued occupation of Palestine have given millions of Muslims around the world the belief that the Western World are seeking not to empower them but to dominate them.

So, we have to stop and we have to think and we have to dialogue.

As Defence Minister and Party Leader Barak told me in Tel Aviv:

“We have a long record of exchanging violence in the region – we have been less successful talking to each other”.

 * * *

Friends and dear members of the Social Democratic party,

As one of few we can gather representatives from both parts, the Social Democrats have a unique possibility and responsibility. And the Swedish Social Democrats will increase our engagement in the Middle-East even more under my leadership.

We will soon welcome a delegation from Abu Ala – the secretary general of al Fatah.

They will study and listen to our experiences before they will start the process to set up their congress, at last, and to start elect representatives instead of appointing them. I think it was 18 years since they hold their congress last time.  There is a big difference between electing and appointing.

This inspires new hope.

* * *

I would also like to mention that in many countries politics is between life and deaf. Some unknown persons felt that threatened by the return of my woman party leader colleague Benazir Bhutto that they tried to kill her when she touched the ground of her beloved Pakistan for the first time in eight years. More than 130 people were killed and 400 injured in an inexcusable attack aimed on this brave woman.

My party and the party of Benazir Bhutto the PPP has cooperated for a long time. And I want Ilyas Mohsin, from PPP, who is here with us today to feel our sympathy and support and bring it home to Pakistan and Benazir Bhutto. 

* * *

Religion, faith, can also be love, inspiration and the strength to help.

“Carry each others pain“ is one of the basic ideas of Swedish Christian Social Democrats. They have for long been a vital and important part of the policy-making in our party, and a strong voice for international solidarity. They have started close cooperation with Muslims in Sweden. They give us both inspiration and alternative answers to problems.

There are plenty of good examples of how religion can be of great help to politics in a complex world.

Maybe the most obvious example of this is the churches role in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa. Here the churches offered tools which the political society lacked: dialogue, forgiveness and reconciliation.

In all the truth- and reconciliation processes that now take place – like the one in Peru, Sierra Leone and Colombia – churches have a central role for similar reasons. 

Mahatma Gandhis work for India’s development was also built on a religiously based belief in non-violence. Just as Martin Luther Kings work in the United States for citizen’s rights.

The liberation movement in Latin America with among others Oscar Romero and Ernesto Cardinal is another example where leaders with strong religious beliefs take a lead.

* * *

There is a core of ethical values within each of the major religions.

The morale they express relates closely to human rights principles. In fact, when the Universal Declaration was drafted after the Second World War these values were a source of inspiration.

Religious leaders carry a great responsibility in passing on these values – defending and explaining human rights within their communities.

Political leaders carry a great responsibility in building the bridges – preventing isolation, promoting open societies and democracy.

Let me begin my conclusion with some words sent to me in an e-mail recently. Mehrako Masifi, a Kurdish man who grew up in Sweden, founder of an organization called “In the Eye of the Observer”, he wrote:

 “Through the years I’ve come to realize that people have more in common than we really think. Regardless of religion and ethnicity we share many fundamental values.”  

Mehrako Masifi is so right.

Our common goal is not only to promote mutual understanding and respect – regardless of religious beliefs, ethnicity, gender or sexual preferences.

Our responsibility is to fight for human rights.

Our tool is dialogue.

And our strong will never to judge a brother, or a sister, until we have walked for a while in his, or her, shoes.

Welcome to Bommersvik, welcome to the Anna Lindh seminar and to a challenging discussion!

Thank you for listening!