At a time of palpable social tensions and far-reaching political debates, cooperation between religious communities and state institutions is taking on vital significance. Last Monday, a landmark document was presented to the public in Munich: the Bavarian Dialogue Forum on ‘Religion and Integration’ unveiled a comprehensive “Joint Declaration”. The signatory representatives of various faiths are thereby sending an unambiguous signal in support of social cohesion, peaceful coexistence and the protection of our democratic values.
A milestone in the fight against division and prejudice
The committee, established in autumn 2025 on the initiative of the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior and Integration, sees itself as a dynamic platform for dialogue. It brings together leading representatives of the Christian churches and Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist communities with the academic and political spheres. The aim is to directly counteract prejudice through information and honest communication. It is often a lack of contact and gaps in knowledge about other cultures that provide fertile ground for exclusion, extremism and religious intolerance. The alliance is now countering this with transparent structures characterised by respect.
Recent global conflicts in particular – such as the escalation in the Middle East – have subjected interfaith exchange, and Jewish-Muslim dialogue in particular, to immense strain and, in some cases, brought it to a standstill. This made the participants in Munich all the more determined to express their shared resolve not to let the thread of dialogue be severed, even under the most difficult circumstances. Breaking off dialogue and remaining silent would ultimately only leave the field open to radical forces.
A boost for BaFID’s work
The Dialogue Forum’s clear commitment to the free and democratic constitutional order and its intention to create spaces for respectful encounters and the sharing of knowledge reflect the core remit of our research centre. It strongly emphasises the social relevance of scientifically grounded discourse skills.
“The historic initiative by the Bavarian Minister of the Interior, Joachim Herrmann, to engage religions as active partners in shaping peaceful and democratic coexistence on the basis of the free and democratic basic order enshrined in our Basic Law aligns exceptionally well with the core principles of BaFID. It gives our academic and practical work a tangible boost and provides us with lasting encouragement in implementing our ongoing initiatives – foremost among them the project ‘Interreligious Discursive Values Education in Integration Work’, funded by the Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior, Sport and Integration, and the pilot project ‘Religions for Democracy’, supported by the Federal Agency for Civic Education.” — Prof. Dr Georges Tamer, Director of BaFID
Prevention through dialogue and education
The declaration makes it clear that religions play an explicit and key role in preserving internal peace. In light of these developments at the political level, BaFID feels vindicated in its commitment to further intensify academic research into interreligious dynamics and to offer practical educational programmes. Only through reliable spaces for dialogue, in which differences are respected and common ground emphasised, can an effective shield against anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and all forms of discrimination be established.
👉 Further information on the Dialogue Forum on Religion and Integration can be found here: Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior, Sport and Integration