Open letter to Ambassador McMullen - I feel a strong need to protest against the recent decisions of the United States of America

Suite aux récentes décisions des Etats Unis concernant l'Iran et Jérusalem, plusieurs musulman/es ont décliné l'invitation de l'Ambassadeur des USA pour participer à un Iftar à l'Ambassade à Berne.

Voici ma réponse négative à l'Ambassadeur McMullen.

Open letter
Morges, 31^st May 2018

Pascal Gemperli
Ch. de la Mésange 6
1110 Morges

H.E. Mr. Edward T. McMullen, Jr.                          Ambassador of the United States of America
             Sulgeneckstrasse 19
             3007 Bern, Switzerland

Your Excellency,

I am deeply grateful for your invitation to the Iftar dinner at your Embassy. In Switzerland, Muslim citizens are not used to this type of invitations by our authorities; I indeed appreciate your cordial invitation. Furthermore, your efforts to strengthen relations between your Embassy and the Swiss Muslim community are most honourable.

As you know, this is the holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims aspire to live as close as possible to the ethics and principles of our faith. The Quran teaches us to promote what is right and to confront what is wrong. The Prophet Mohamed commands us to actively engage against injustice by changing it with our hands, if we are not able to do so, change it with our tongue, or if we are not able to do so, then with our hearts. Among the most important values of my religion are global peace, non-violence, social justice and charity.

In spite of my pleasure about your invitation, I feel a strong need to protest against the recent decisions of the United States of America. The unilateral termination of the multiparty agreement with Iran and the needless move of the US Embassy to Jerusalem destabilize world peace and triggered incredible suffering, violence and death among fellow human beings, brothers and sisters in humanity.

Therefore, in particular during the holy month of Ramadan and for the peace of my conscience it is not appropriate for me to take part and I regret that I am not able to accept your invitation.

                                                                                              Yours sincerely,

                                                                                              Pascal Gemperli