Belgian MP of Iranian origin Darya Safai reacted on social media after verses from the Qur’an were sung at the opening ceremony of the academic year at the Catholic University of Leuven. She considers it problematic to present religious texts as a symbol of inclusion when certain verses conflict with the values of individual freedom and equality. The university has not commented so far.

(Staff: Belgium / Education & Society)

The Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven), one of the oldest and most prestigious higher-education institutions in Europe, has sparked a heated debate after including the singing of verses from the Qur’an in the programme of the opening ceremony for the new academic year. The event was strongly criticised by MP Darya Safai, who is known for her critical views of political Islam and for advocating women’s rights.

Darya Safai’s reaction

In a message posted on social media, Darya Safai described the university’s decision as “cultural self-denial”. She stressed that KU Leuven is a university with centuries-old Christian roots and argued that it should not relativise that identity in order to appear more inclusive.

“For Muslims, the Qur’an is the word of Allah. The same Qur’an contains verses that prescribe or legitimise violence against non-believers. This makes it problematic to use such texts as the intellectual or cultural opening of an academic ceremony, as if they were a universal symbol of tolerance,” Safai wrote.

She added that a university should not present religious texts as a symbol of inclusion when parts of those texts conflict with the principles of individual freedom, equality and human rights. “Tolerance does not mean accepting everything without criticism. Inclusion does not mean erasing your own identity. And respect for other religions does not mean remaining silent about ideas that fundamentally conflict with our values,” she added.

KU Leuven between tradition and inclusion

KU Leuven is an institution with an explicitly Catholic identity, but in recent decades it has adopted a policy of openness towards students and teaching staff of all faiths. Events such as the opening of the academic year often include diverse artistic and cultural moments intended to reflect the multicultural nature of the campus.

However, some perceived the decision to include the singing of the Qur’an as a sign of relativising its own tradition. Darya Safai stressed that Europe has a Christian cultural heritage that should not be hidden out of fear of being seen as insufficiently inclusive. “Those who constantly relativise their own culture create room for others to change it. This is not progress. This is cultural self-denial,” she concluded.

The broader debate

The MP’s reaction is part of a broader debate in Belgian and European society about the boundaries of inclusion, the role of religion in public life, and the way higher-education institutions define their identity. On the one hand, supporters of greater openness argue that universities should be spaces for intercultural dialogue and mutual respect. On the other hand, critics warn that such openness can lead to a loss of identity and the uncritical acceptance of values that are incompatible with fundamental rights.

So far, the Catholic University of Leuven has not issued an official statement regarding these criticisms.