EU chief calls for creation of European body to train imams

European Council president Charles Michel said Monday he supported creating a European institute to train imams, as he visited Austria to pay tribute to the victims of last week’s jihadist attack in Vienna.

“It is very important to be firm on this. I think, for example, that we should have a debate at the European level connected to the idea that was raised some time ago to set up a European institute to train imams,” he told the media.

Michel said “this message of tolerance, openness can be conveyed at the European level … to ensure that the primacy of civil law is accepted,” he said.

“Online messages glorifying terrorism must be quickly removed. There must be no impunity for terrorists and those praising them on internet,” he said later in a tweet.

European Council president Charles Michel said Monday he supported creating a European institute to train imams, as he visited Austria to pay tribute to the victims of last week’s jihadist attack in Vienna.

“It is very important to be firm on this. I think, for example, that we should have a debate at the European level connected to the idea that was raised some time ago to set up a European institute to train imams,” he told the media.

Michel said “this message of tolerance, openness can be conveyed at the European level … to ensure that the primacy of civil law is accepted,” he said.

“Online messages glorifying terrorism must be quickly removed. There must be no impunity for terrorists and those praising them on internet,” he said later in a tweet.