Interfaith prayers led at Auschwitz by most senior Muslim to visit to date

A joint delegation of Muslims from the Muslim World League and Jews from the American Jewish Committee gathered today at the Auschwitz Museum, where both Muslim and Jewish prayers were said.

JANUARY 23, 2020 18:13

Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Issa of the Muslim World League visits Auschwitz with David Harris, Rabbi David Rosen, and Harriet Schleifer of the American Jewish Committee. January 23, 2020. (photo credit: Courtesy) — Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Issa of the Muslim World League visits Auschwitz with David Harris, Rabbi David Rosen, and Harriet Schleifer of the American Jewish Committee. January 23, 2020.

(photo credit: Courtesy)

A delegation of Muslims and Jews jointly visited Auschwitz on Thursday for a memorial event, during which Islamic and Jewish prayers were said, and candles lit.

Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Issa, a Saudi Arabian politician and Secretary General of the Muslim World League became the senior-most Muslim to visit the site for the interfaith mission, marking the 75th anniversary of hte liberation of Auschwitz.

Today, Jewish and Muslim memorial prayers were said together at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Together, we remember. Together, we will never forget. pic.twitter.com/UMOG73v1S2
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) January 23, 2020

He was joined by delegated from the Muslim World League, in addition to David Harris, CEO of the American Jewish Committee (AJC), Rabbi David Rosen, head of AJC’s Department of Interreligious Affairs, and AJC President Harriet Schleifer, among a wider delegation from the Jewish community.

HE Dr. Mohammad Al-Issa and delegates from the @MWLOrg_en and @AJCGlobal visited @AuschwitzMuseum today in an interfaith mission marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. #Auschwitz75 pic.twitter.com/PjvYZXCblu
— Auschwitz Memorial (@AuschwitzMuseum) January 23, 2020

Dr al-Issa addressed the interfaith group before the International Monument at Auschwitz, calling the horrors of the camp a "crime against humanity." He also lit a candle at the Wall of Executions in memory of those killed there.

HE Dr. #MohammadAlissa lights a candle at the Wall of Executions in memory of all those killed there while visiting @AuschwitzMuseum with delegates from @AJCGlobal pic.twitter.com/Oi8H699iZt
— Muslim World League (@MWLOrg_en) January 23, 2020

On its website, the MWL describes itself as a "tolerant and sociable organization, spreading the understanding the importance of interfaith cooperation and dialogue to fight extremism and bigotry."

The AJC describes its mission as "to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel, and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world."