Taking a step forward to represent the true image of their faith, German Muslims have announced plans to hold a nationwide rally to be attended by members of different faiths, showing a unified stance for tolerance and peace against extremism.
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“We want to make clear terrorists and criminals do not speak in the name of Islam,” the head of the Central Council of Muslims, Aiman Mazyek, told Reuters on Tuesday, September 16.
“They have trampled on the commandments of our religion, and that murderers and criminals have no place in our ranks, in our religion.”
Organized by more than 2,000 German mosques, the peace rallies will be held in seven areas including Berlin, Hamburg, Mölln, Bielefeld, Oldenburg, Frankfurt and Stuttgart next Friday, September 19.
The rallies, which will be attended by faith leaders, social groups and politicians, is co-organized by senior officials like the Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere and Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit, who are expected to participate.
The anti-extremist demonstration follows claims that some 400 German have travelled to fight in Iraq and Syria.
The rally aims to dissuade German youth from joining ISIL and condemn radicalism.
“We call on everyone to behave peacefully, to raise their voice against racism, to stand together for our free, democratic order and to say no to every kind of extremism,” Muslim Coordination Council (KRM) spokesman Ali Kizilkazya was quoted by The Local.
“They are our youngsters. Everyone that leaves is not only a loss for Muslims, it’s a loss for the whole society.
"We hope that the example of a peaceful life in Germany will also send a positive signal to conflict zones in the Middle East.”
Militants from ISIL have been widely condemned by Muslims worldwide who staged several protests to express anger against the terrorist group.
Earlier this month, Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, has condemned ISIL, accusing it of serving a “Zionist” plot to “destroy the Arab World”.
Two weeks ago, Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh condemned Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State jihadists as “enemy number one” of Islam, urging Muslims to take up arms against the militant group’s members.
Friday's demonstration against injustice and hate comes after a spate of anti-Muslims attacks in which five mosques were torched.
Along with peace rallies, German mosques have invited people from all faiths to attend Friday prayers across the country.
"As a society we have to stand together" when churches, synagogues and mosques are attacked, Kizilkaya told dpa.
Germany has Europe's second-biggest Muslim population after France, and Islam comes third in Germany after Protestant and Catholic Christianity.
It has between 3.8 and 4.3 million Muslims, making up some 5 percent of the total 82 million population, according to government-commissioned studies.
Germans have grown hostile to the Muslim presence recently, with a heated debate on the Muslim immigration into the country.
A recent poll by the Munster University found that Germans view Muslims more negatively than their European neighbors.
Moreover, a study released by the University of Leipzig last June showed that 35% of Germans don't welcome Muslim immigration, believing that it should be banned.
Anti-Muslims attacks in Germany are on the rise too. At least 40 incidents were reported in 2013, according to recent government statistics.
