As German Muslims suffer a broad rise in Islamophobia, the leaders of Social Democratic Party (SPD) have called for creating a contract with the religious minority to “officialize” their community in Europe's largest economy.
Share It :
“We are telling them 'you are a part of this city, you are at home here,'” Social Democratic Party (SPD) leader Raed Saleh told RBB, The Local reported.
According to Saleh, the SPD has been working on a draft of a contract with Berlin's 250,000 Muslims to grant them official status. The new status will be similar to the one between the town hall and Christian and Jewish groups.
The contract would allow the Muslim community to regulate its religious holidays, funerals and collaborative work at universities.
“Berlin needs a contract,” said the city's culture secretary, Tim Renner.
“It is important that we have such a central contract with Muslim communities, even if only as a sign, especially now,” when the topic of Islam is discussed everywhere.
Other German cities like Hamburg and Bremen have already signed contracts with Muslims, while Lower Saxony would adopt one by the spring.
Although it will be symbolic, the contract aims to integrate Muslims in Berlin community.
The umbrella organization Islamic Federation, which comprises 18 mosques, will be invited by the city officials to discuss the issue.
“Every little step we do to bring us closer together is welcome,” said Islamic Federation vice president Faical Salhi.
“The aim is indeed to speak with one voice, not only on behalf of the Turkish or Arab Muslims, but as a platform... where all are complying with the rules of democracy.”
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.
Germans have grown hostile to the Muslim presence recently, with a heated debate on the Muslim immigration into the country.
Over the past weeks, the group “Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the Occident” or PEGIDA has been holding weekly marches against Muslims and immigrants.
Pegida drew a record 25,000 marchers to its 12th rally last week in Dresden where its flag-waving members held a minute’s silence for the victims of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris last week.
Its latest protest was met by some 100,000 counter-demonstrators nationwide, who accused Pegida of exploiting the French attacks by Islamist gunmen, and who voiced support for a multicultural German society.
Offering support for the Muslim community, German Chancellor Angela Merkel attended a vigil for tolerance in Berlin last week, in a clear message against rising anti-Islam, far-right group Pegida.
Two days ago, the head of the anit-Islam movement quit after a photo showing him apparently posing as Hitler emerged.
