On the occasion of the discussion about the upcoming implementation of the basic livelihood guarantee (Kindergrundsicherung) for children in Germany, Ali Mete, Secretary General of the Islamic Community Millî Görüş (IGMG), released a statement.

“Tackling child poverty is not an issue of ethnicity or passports, but about the future of our society. We, the members of the Islamic Community Millî Görüş, demand that the political leadership take responsibility,” Mete emphasized.

“The constant discussion of children’s basic livelihood security (Kindergrundsicherung) disturbs us. There should be no debate whatsoever over whether or not to support children in one of the richest nations in the world. Children who do not have the opportunity to engage equitably can be given the opportunity thanks to this basic assurance structure. This is not simply an economic obligation of prudent politics, but also a moral one.

Another reason to be concerned is the fact that this issue has been unnecessarily tied to ethnicity through factual distortion. Making sure that children’s basic requirements are addressed is a subject that will touch people with varied life stories; it has nothing to do with ethnicity or passports. At the heart of the issue lies the topic of whether success and social origin should be separated.

Our plea to politicians as the Islamic Community Millî Görüş is to act with caution and resolve, not to sacrifice this problem to populism and political power battles because it affects the future of society. Even one child left behind makes it more than just a moral weight for us.”