Minaret Debate Moves to Germany

[S<Chowdhury]

The desire of the Muslim community in the western German town of Volklingen to build a small minaret on a local mosque has sparked a debate reminiscent of that in Switzerland that ended in banning minarets.
"If their building is within the rules, then nobody has the right to stop them in Germany," Christoph Gottschalk, 60, a steel trader, told The Times on Thursday, February 11.

"Some people say they are against for aesthetic reasons, which I think is a stupid argument because Volklingen is one of the ugliest towns perhaps in the whole of Europe."

But not every body agrees.

In a town meeting held on the subject in late January, a number of locals came out against the minaret plan.

Some have even described the proposed small minaret, stretching a mere eight meters (26 feet) above the roof, as an infiltration of their community.

Muslims reportedly make up 5 percent of Volklingen's 40,000-strong population.

Germany is believed to be home to nearly 4 million Muslims, including 220,000 in Berlin alone.

Turks make up an estimated two thirds of the Muslim minority.

Islam comes third in Germany after Protestant and Catholic Christianity.

Referendum

Though it has only two members on the 51-member city council, the nationalistic National Democratic Party swiftly called for a referendum.

"I see a link with the Swiss situation," said Mayor Klaus Lorig, 59, a representative of Angela Merkel’s ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party.

"Many people saw it on TV and they ask me, ‘Why are we not allowed to decide on our city?’ and I try to argue this is a city for everybody."

Swiss voters had backed a proposal by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) for a blanket ban on minaret building in the Alpine country.

The SVP described the minarets as a symbol of Shari`ah and forced the referendum after collecting 100,000 signatures within 18 months from eligible voters.

A group called Pro-NRW (short for the German state North Rhine-Westphalia) is reportedly cooperating with right-wing political parties in many European countries for a Europe-wide minaret referendum.

Mayor Lorig has appealed to the Muslim community to withdraw the minaret proposal.

The mosque committee, however, said there were no legal grounds to reject its plan and warned that it was prepared to go to court.

"This is our democratic right, to have our places of worship just like there are churches," Adnan Atakli, the head of the Turkish-Muslim community, told the Times.

"Churches have a tower. I live here, we have a mosque and a mosque should have a minaret."

Source

Steel town divided over mosque minaret amid fears of Islamic quest for power (Times Online)

 

[Froggy]

The grand mosque in Köln is a bigger problem.

 

[Supreme]

Give Muslims a break, Europe.

 

[Froggy]

Give Muslims a break, Europe.

There's a lot of paranoia in Europe about Muslims, but some worries are justified. Minarets are not one of them though.

 

[noorseeker]

There's a lot of paranoia in Europe about Muslims, but some worries are justified. Minarets are not one of them though.

Which worries are they then

 

[Froggy]

Which worries are they then

The problem is further immigration and shifting demographics, Muslims already living in Europe are a part of the problem too, but as citizens they should have equal rights in all respects and an additional minaret won't change a thing. Quite the opposite, the animosity towards Muslims may further radicalize people.

 

[noorseeker]

The animosity will further get people back to their deen, and may radicalize also.

Shouldnt all these countries be worrying about their economies, especially germany , which made 0% growth for the last quarter.

 

[Supreme]

There's a lot of paranoia in Europe about Muslims, but some worries are justified. Minarets are not one of them though.

Indeed, but removing minarets is not a rational response to those rational problems.

 

[Froggy]

The animosity will further get people back to their deen, and may radicalize also.

Shouldnt all these countries be worrying about their economies, especially germany , which made 0% growth for the last quarter.

They should and I said I do not find minarets the least problematic. Economic concerns however do not mean cultural concerns should be neglected.

Köln grand mosque is a subject I do find problematic and I don't think it should be constructed. The meaning of the grand mosque is symbolic and I doubt it is so big only to accommodate the masses. And its no coincidence the Muslim association chose Köln for its location, the city with Germany's and Europe's largest cathedral.
Similar concerns arise with the grand mosque that was supposed to be built next to the London olympic complex.

 

[The_Prince]

yes here are the fruits of secularism my friends, the one they want to install in Iran, .

 

[Supreme]

yes here are the fruits of secularism my friends, the one they want to install in Iran, .

You can't blame secularism for this, surely?

Would you rather Germany was a devoutly Christian run country instead of a secular state?

 

[Muezzin]

I thought this thread was about the Minaret Debate Moving to Germany.

But hey, what do I know? I'm only a mod who can remove any off-topic post in this forum.

 

[Supreme]

I thought this thread was about the Minaret Debate Moving to Germany.

But hey, what do I know? I'm only a mod who can remove any off-topic post in this forum.

Off topic. Stick to the topic at hand please.

My two cents is obviously that Europe is repeating its history of facism, hostility to religious minorities and that its irrational response to a rational concern.

 

[Froggy]

Off topic. Stick to the topic at hand please.

My two cents is obviously that Europe is repeating its history of facism, hostility to religious minorities and that its irrational response to a rational concern.

What do you propose a rational response would be?

 

[Supreme]

What do you propose a rational response would be?

Better education and more attempts by the governments to integrate the Muslim community as opposed to alienating them. Impoverished Muslim ghettos are part of the problem.

 

[Muezzin]

I thought this thread was about the Minaret Debate Moving to Germany.

But hey, what do I know? I'm only a mod who can remove any off-topic post in this forum.

Wasn't lying, was I?

Off-topic posts removed.

 

[Froggy]

Better education and more attempts by the governments to integrate the Muslim community as opposed to alienating them. Impoverished Muslim ghettos are part of the problem.

And if that doesn't work?

 

[Asiyah3]

Give Muslims a break, Europe.

Thank you Supreme!

Huoh... I'm so filled up with all this "The minaret is far more a symbol of religious-political power" "The burka is a challenge to the republic" blaa blaa blaa
Above this all, civilized Europeans actually believe this +o(

 

[Asiyah3]

The problem is further immigration and shifting demographics, Muslims already living in Europe are a part of the problem too, but as citizens they should have equal rights in all respects and an additional minaret won't change a thing. Quite the opposite, the animosity towards Muslims may further radicalize people.

Please stop wandering around and answer the question. What is the problem exactly?

 

[Asiyah3]

Köln grand mosque is a subject I do find problematic and I don't think it should be constructed. The meaning of the grand mosque is symbolic and I doubt it is so big only to accommodate the masses. And its no coincidence the Muslim association chose Köln for its location, the city with Germany's and Europe's largest cathedral.
Similar concerns arise with the grand mosque that was supposed to be built next to the London olympic complex.

What are you referring to? What are the concerns? I don't see any problem with building a mosque near the cathernal.