The European Council of Imams has strongly condemned a recent visit by a group of “so-called imams” to Israel, calling the act a betrayal of basic Islamic principles and solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The council said in a statement on Wednesday that the delegation met with “criminal figures” in the occupying Israeli state amid a global outcry over the ongoing military assault on Gaza.
“We were shocked by media outbursts of a visit by so-called imams to the occupying Israeli state and their meeting with its criminal figures,” the council said, adding that the act “is in stark contradiction to any human or moral sensibility.”
It emphasised that the individuals involved in the visit are “unknown among European Muslims” and have no affiliation with any “reputable religious institutions or trusted Islamic organisations.”
According to the statement, the visit “clearly reveals its provocative and showy nature, aimed at serving suspicious agendas,” and does not represent the position of Muslims in Europe, who have been staging protests and demonstrations in support of Palestinians across the continent.
“The ongoing protests and daily events in cities across Europe stand as clear evidence of this unwavering position,” the council added.
The statement also called on all imams, scholars, activists, and people of conscience to “intensify efforts in support of the oppressed Palestinian people and to confront the war of genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza.”
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The council warned against any attempts to “whitewash the crimes of the occupier,” describing such efforts as “a betrayal of Allah, His Messenger, and the blood of the oppressed.”
It also cautioned against efforts “to distort consciousness and undermine foundational principles through paid or misguided individuals.”
Concluding the statement, the European Council of Imams prayed for strength and victory for the Palestinian people, saying: “We ask Allah, the Exalted, to strengthen the hearts of our brothers in Palestine, to grant victory to the people of Gaza against the oppressors, and to return them to their homes and lives in safety and dignity.”
Pro-Israel so-called ‘imams’
The visit of so-called “European imams” to Israel earlier this week, organised by the European Leadership Network (ELNET), a pro-Israel advocacy group, sparked significant debate and criticism, particularly within Muslim communities in Europe.
The delegation, consisting of approximately 15 Muslim “religious and community leaders” from France, Belgium, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Italy, visited Israel starting on July 7.
The group met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem. They also visited the Knesset, met with military and religious authorities, and toured significant religious sites, including the Temple Mount and Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City.
Imam Youssef Masbeh, a Moroccan-born imam based in the Netherlands, sang an Arabic reinterpretation of Israel’s national anthem, “Hatikvah,” during the meeting with Herzog.
The delegation was led by Imam Hassen Chalghoumi, chairman of the Conference of Imams of France, known for his pro-Israel stance and interfaith activism. Other figures included Ali El Aarja, president of the Italian Islamic Confederation, and Noor Dahri, founder of the UK-based Islamic Theology of Counter Terrorism.
Many participants had Moroccan backgrounds, reflecting Morocco’s historical Jewish community and its normalisation of ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords.
According to ELNET and reports from sources like The Jerusalem Post and The Times of Israel, the visit aimed to foster interfaith dialogue and promote peace between Muslims and Jews.
The delegation expressed solidarity with Israel, condemned terrorism (specifically referencing Hamas and Iran), and prayed for the release of hostages held in Gaza. Imam Chalghoumi framed the visit as a stand for “brotherhood, humanity, and liberty,” emphasising a distinction between “Islam and Islamism.”
The delegates also highlighted concerns about rising antisemitism in Europe, particularly following the October 7 attack on Israel. They sought to challenge narratives of enmity between Muslims and Jews, with Noor Dahri stating that the visit aimed to convey that “the Jewish nation is not the enemy of Muslims” and that Israel is not against Islam.
Subsequently, Imam Youssef Masbeh was suspended by Mosque Bilal in Alkmaar, Netherlands. The mosque issued a statement severing ties with Masbeh, clarifying that it bore no responsibility for his actions or statements during the visit.
The decision followed significant outrage within the Dutch Muslim community, particularly over Masbeh’s singing of an Arabic version of “Hatikvah,” which was seen as endorsing Israel’s national narrative.
