KARACHI, May 10: The European countries’ constitution shows respect to all religions and imposes no restriction on its citizens. It not only allows one to follow religion in general and to expand its circle of believers but also gives one the freedom not to opt for any religious community.

This was a stated by German consul-general Hans-Joachim Kiderlen during his lecture on the ‘Role of religion in public life in the countries of European Union’, at the Area Study Centre for Europe (ASCE), University of Karachi.

The consul-general said that the church was no longer associated with the state. He said that there was no restriction, whatsoever, on forming religious organisations. Describing in detail the standpoint of the European countries on religion, Mr Kiderlen said that the constitution of the European countries did not forbid its citizens from practicing religion or even from preaching it.

At the end of the lecture, replying to audiences’ queries regarding French government’s stance over headscarf, he said that in other EU countries scarf was not looked down upon, however, burqa did concern them. Besides security issues, people find it a hindrance in effective communication, he added.

On questions about Turkey’s EU membership, he said that the delay was due to differences in the system of governance and secondly, it bordered some of the most critical countries such as Iran and Iraq.