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PrintSTUTTGART: Delegates from Germany's anti-immigration party Alternative for Germany (AfD) on Sunday backed an election manifesto that says Islam is not compatible with the country's constitution and calls for a ban on minarets and the burqa.
The AfD, set up just three years ago, has been buoyed by Europe's migrant crisis, which saw the arrival of more than one million, mostly Muslim, migrants in Germany last year. The party has no lawmakers in the federal parliament in Berlin but has members in half of Germany's 16 regional state assemblies.
Opinion polls give AfD support of up to 14 percent, presenting a serious challenge to Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives and other established parties ahead of the 2017 federal election. They rule out any coalition with the AfD.
In a raucous and highly emotional debate on the second day of a party congress, many of the 2,000 delegates cheered calls from the podium for measures against “Islamic symbols of power” and jeered a plea for dialogue with Germany's Muslims.
“Islam is foreign to us and for that reason it cannot invoke the principle of religious freedom to the same degree as Christianity,” said Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, an AfD lawmaker from the state of Saxony-Anhalt, to loud applause.
Merkel has said freedom of religion for all is guaranteed by Germany's constitution and has said on many occasions that Islam belongs to Germany.
Islam is not part of Germany
Up to 2,000 left-wing demonstrators clashed with police on Saturday as they tried to break up the first full AfD conference. About 500 people were briefly detained and 10 police officers were lightly injured, a police spokesman said.
The chapter of the AfD manifesto concerning Muslims is entitled “Islam is not a part of Germany”. The manifesto demands a ban to minarets - the towers of a mosque from where the call to Muslim prayer is made - and the burqa, the all-encompassing body garment worn by some conservative Muslim women.
In Sunday's debate one delegate's call for greater understanding drew jeers and loud whistles. “I call for a differentiation and urge everybody to visit their local Muslim communities and initiate a dialogue,” said Ernst-August Roettger, a delegate from the northern city of Lueneburg.
He was speaking in support of an amendment that called for acceptance of everybody's religious freedom and for the party not to regard all Muslims as extremists. Delegates rejected the amendment.
Germany is home to nearly four million Muslims, about five percent of the total population. Many of the longer established Muslim community in Germany came from Turkey to find work but those who have arrived over the past year have mostly been fleeing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Last month the head of Germany's Central Council of Muslims likened the AfD's attitude towards his community to that of Adolf Hitler's Nazis towards the Jews.
Comments (57)
First they enter quietly, then they misbehave with the native women, then they commit crimes. Then they want themselves to be governed by their local laws. This was bound to happen. Once hitler destroyed Europe now Merkel is on the verge of doing the same.
Merkel would destroy Germany.
I have lived in Germany for a longer time in the past. Afd support is not much at all. But it will definitely increase with the passage of time and it is because of the attitude of migrants in General. The worse migrants in my view are Afghans, Pakistanis and Moroccons. Many Pakistanis i know are simply destroying the society in Germany. They ogle at girls in a crazy manner. Many of them have married girls and then abandoned them after getting passports. They have no respect for the general society. Smoking the cigarette and then throwing the butts on the streets rather than in designated bins is like an obligation. Throwing litter on the streets and breaking rules is also a part of Our great Pride. Basically we are just bringing our third world mentality to the shores of Europe and now they are getting tired of it. It is as simple as that. Do not blame the Afd. Just look into the mirror that what our people are doing there.
Do what Canadians did, they only let in women, children and elderly plus they started giving them religious and moral lessons right away. What big hearts...
Minarets or no minerets, Muslims will go to Germany as in this country they are safer than in any muslim country.
Mr. Awan is right. The muslims have no respect for the general society in Germany or in any other country that accepts them. They come from failed countries and replicates the absence of respect that is usual in their own countries. There is a urgent need to this to stop.
AfD has full rights to express it's views and perceptions, the history will always praise the Germans for accepting such a large number of refugees in distress. Ofcourse it's for immigrants to understand & follow their new country traditions,cultures,and rules and integrate in German Society in a positive manner.Some miscreants who disobey the law,must be punished appropriately,while the majority of immigrants are law abiding,and will be an asset to German socioeconomic development. Time will only convince AfD in future that the decision of Angela Merkel was correct,and Germany will flourish as most economical sound,propsperous,country with such a strong labor force of multi- ethnic men & women.Best possible wishes for Germans always.
They are net burden on excheqours. Too many kids, wife not working, he will try to find a cash job so that he does not want to pay taxes, seeking exclusive facilities including time and place to pray during working hours, will pass judgements on morality of the host society and how its end is near. Believe me terrorism is last reason.
Merkel is on the way to destroy Germany. Whereas the legal migrants find it difficult to enter Germany ,these people have forced their way in and have damaged the prospects of many genuine job seekers. Their behaviour has also made life difficult for the locals and other peaceful migrants.
@Awan Absolutely agree.
USA is the best place to live, regardless of religion. American respect all religion. The mosques are every where, I am so happy to settle in USA .. I became US citizen , my kids educated in USA and holding well paying job. Thanks GOD I left Germany and settle in USA. God bless the USA Sincerely, Ashraf Mirza (USA) ashwmirza@yahoo.com
@Mario Henrique S. Lins I did not brought the religion and the word Muslim in it. Infact I am a Muslim myself. But your comment is full of generalizations. The people like you are infact another problem as you try to point scores by playing the religious cards. If you meet the people of North India in Germany and they are non Muslims and most tax frauds are done by them in the restaurant business. Kindly stop generalizing the Muslims. You or any person do not has any right to generalize more than 2 billion people. Good and bad exist everywhere.
All of these comments are anti immigrants and they are justified as destroying the social fabric of a country that is alien to the culture from which these people are coming, however this does not mean the religion of islam has to be banned. These immigrants if converted to Christianity will still be the same. The blame has to be put on the failure of the countries to instill in these people the basic common sense of how to live
Can one blame Germany? No. Muslims should only go and settle in other Muslim countries if they are unable to assimilate into other countries and religions. You cannot go to a foreign land and disregard their laws and cultures. That is why many countries don't want any more Muslims.
Entirely agree with you Awan. Behavior and manners of the immigrants from countries you mention is really disgusting.No wonder they are despised by the host nation.
There are migrants from different religions and cultures. Why then is the finger pointed at Muslims? Muslims who want well being of their community and society in general need to address this boldly.
As someone living in Germany, I can tell you that people hardly know about of this AFD party. I find it funny that they label the whole of 'Islam' as the problem, which is wrong. There is indeed a particular, extreme version of Islam that has no place in any sensible society but the same can be said about extreme versions of Christianity, Budhism and any other religion. I ask the AFD this: Are all versions of Christianity being practiced around the world (e.g. KKK) adhere to norms of civilized societies? I don't think so.
I would like to respectfully disagree with Awan sahab here. He is singling out certain nationalities. I have seen Pakistanis, Afghans and Moroccans who make a model German resident. On the other hand, I have seen native Germans, doing the exact things Awan sahab has described.
I agree the refugee crisis should have been dealt with sensibly & I do not approve of the way it is being handled, but we should not make it an excuse to blame a whole religion for that.
@Ashraf Mirza (USA) I would agree with that. I was in Las Vegas this month for an exibition and found 11 Mosques in that city you would imagine and most of the taxi drivers were Muslims from Asia, Africa or Middle east all living peacefully
Do not blame afD or other, look at yourself. They have right to protect themselves. You are foreigners into Germany, so first respect their laws, culture, religion. Then you will earn respect
As after Pakistan I love Germany the most I will not like seeing the peace disturbed. I am, thus, not in favour of any immigrants allowed in Germany. Immigrants will never behave properly and move around only fanatically.
Rather than making their own countries stand on their feet they are spoiling other countries.These immigrants should not be allowed.
@Awan - I agree 100% with you and what you have written. There is nothing that i can refute. I lived in Germany almost 12 years with my family. Enjoyed living and raising my kids. Pakistanie's not majority but 10% were doing all those things that you've mentioned.
It hurts me to say but Indiand do better in the UK than Pakistanis.
It's not down to religion, because the Indian figures include Muslims and Sikhs.
Demos is a cross party research group, it represent the full spectrum of political parties, left and right.
Constructive comments , appreciated.
http://www.demos.co.uk/blog/why-are-british-indians-more-successful-than-pakistanis/
Muslims or else ,once an individual immigrates to another country he/she must abide by the law of the state. Religious and cultural autonomy to worship and practice must also be granted to enhance harmony and peace amongst the residents.
@MA I beg to point out a difference. In United States Muslims are about 1% of the population, whereas in Germany Muslims constitute to over 5%. So, in spite of having 11 mosques in Las Vegas, they are a very small minority.
Merkel for SG of the UN !!
Extremely disappointed in reading most of the comments here, which luckily aren't many. The problem seems to be refugees arriving from Syria, Afghanistan and some other countries. If you people hate Muslims so much, why did your European countries with US create such a massive massacre of Muslims in their own countries, where they had every right to live independently and would still have been living there had their countries remain peaceful, and no, those terrorists who destroyed those Muslims countries, they are not Muslims' own creation. Not understanding the basic problem and preserving the interests of some groups will not bring peace or solve anyone's problem, the bane of terrorism is biting Muslims now, its next target could be any other community.
Credit goes to the US invasion of the Muslim countries.
@divergence most people who are making anti muslim comments are unsuprisingly hindus sikhs and far right people. They have no interest in a valid argument instead promoting anti muslim hate, these people will blame muslims and islam for everything, even their own shortcomings.
I am not surprised at all. It was expected. We want the world to change for us but we can't do the same for anyone. How hypocritical of us!.
Every religion requires change as no one is perfect.But point is that no other region advocates ruler functions and its framework as per religion so strictly and women rights is a major social issue.
Most of the crisis is due to different sects in Islam. Every where muslims killing muslims Syria,Iraq,PAK ,AFGAN etc.How can west be responsible for it alone.Same issue exist in other religions too but violence is at minimum.
Why these Muslim migrants for Syria and all War countries want to go toEurope instead of there friendly Gulf Countries, Like Saudi Arabia, U.A.E or Oman.
This is blessing in disguise. Build our own countries now instead of contributing in West
@Woz ahmed it's down to ideology and teaching.
@Awan I agree with you. You have projected true picture of society
One can't blame Germany. And I say it is by far the most compassionate country in Europe..! Its's compassion, decency, modesty and honor was outraged, attacked and ravaged in the most gruesome manner on 'New Year's Day'. Although it wasn't just one reason.
@Rohit I cannot agree more with you.you nailed it.
What a beautiful thing Merkel said, 'Islam belongs to Germany and not the other way around. '
If the migrants want to live Islamic lifestyle, why don't they migrate to Islamic countries rather than make life miserable for other countries??
what is the big deal......most muslim countries dont welcome immigrants themselves....
Why Muslims are 'persona non grata' in all of the non Muslim countries of the world? Is not the time to introspect?
@aslam shaikh I completely beg to differ with you as regards Canada. It seems you know nothing about Canada's immigration policy. Canada's new government in its election plan recently vowed to take in 25000 Syrian families majority of them Muslims and the elected government is very near to the achievement of that goal so much so that all other immigrant programs are on a slow gear just in order to meet that 25000 families immigration target. Do you want to know how many Muslims and Sikhs(Punjabis) , Hindus, Srlinakan natives are Members of Parliament in Canada ? A Sikh (born in Canada) who served as an army officer for 15 + years is now the Canadian defence minister. Please do not insult my adopted country Canada if you do NOT know the facts.
Just like Jews were not part of Germany during World War 2 I suppose. And that will be the case again if Muslims suddenly packed up and left.
Its their country and the have right to make rules of their choice.
@Awan - Very well said Sir, I agreed and salute you.
This will strengthen Trump's candidature.
@Woz ahmed Bro. It is the tahzib that allows Indians to be accepted in any country. Is there a single country where you hear that Indians are creating problems .
@The Truth I have not seen so many hindus,sikhs commenting the majority are Muslims or christians.
Ideally live there for couple of generations, work and build a great economic life, but keep politics low and religion very private. After all you have left your own Islamic nation and seek refuge in nonIslamic nation so plz keep list of political complains and aspirations on the low side. Too much "siasaat" oriented mindset creates problem. West does not have a problem is you follow your culture, food, clothing etc. But any host will have a problem when you start fussing about how their political system is not convenient for you. Then why did you come ????
@Woz ahmed Nothing new... Everyone knew this long time ago. The Indians earn at par with the British in UK. Indians are the highest earners in USA.
It is about time.
Now the champion of human rights organization will keep their mouth shut on this..
@Rohit wow well said Rohit. That's precisely summarised
The problem is when migrants come from lawless / or low law abiding countries, than they fail to understand that in matured democracies, ones responsibilities are more than rights. Invariably, cultural clashes on account of food, dress and worship take place. Finally, it leads to parties like AfD emerge strong from shadows.
@Awan You nailed it. Its also the case or perhaps worse now with Lebaonese mafia clans, Chechnyan hardcore groups and sudan to somalis....I work with them and analyze.
@Awan Working on the subject, most restaurants or fast food deliveries are in hands of noth indian punjabis, who are also 90% illegall asyl products who fooled the local girls to get residency etc, and i work on this for last 30 yrs, and all indian restaurants are also of pakistanis to srilankans as well.