The newly appointed interior minister of German, Hans-Peter Friedrich, has caused some upset in the Germany's Muslim community with his recent comments on the religion's place in history. In his first news conference at his new title Friedrich said "Islam in Germany is not something substantiated by history at any point" he also went on to say that Islam didn't have a major role in German culture. These comments prompted the bishop of Berlin, Markus Dröge, to voice his distaste at the comments and actions of both Friedrich and other politicians. Dröge said that the German culture was one that was "open and based on dialogue and human rights" and that he didn't agree with politicians singling out Muslims in discussions of how to integrate Germany's communities.
Bishop Dröge wasn't the only one who was unsettled by Friedrich's comments. Lamya Kaddor, the chairwoman of the Liberal-Islamic Union is Germany said that Friedrich's comments were a "slap in the face of Muslims". She also said his statements were "politically and historically wrong" and also called them "dangerous". All of this comes on the heels of Germany's recent focus on how to handle their four million Muslim residents into society and the questioning of a radical Muslim connection to the recent shooting at the Frankfurt airport.
by Spencer Darrow
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/07/world/europe/07germany.html?ref=europe
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