Kuwait Times

Published Date: September 18, 2008

BERLIN: German politicians and a Turkish group appealed for tolerance yesterday and condemned an anti-Islamic congress, planned by a nationalist group in the western city of Cologne. The Pro-Cologne group has invited like-minded groups from around Europe to join a rally on Saturday against the "Islamisation and immigration invasion" of Germany and Europe.

In particular, Pro-Cologne fiercely opposes a decision by the city of Cologne to allow the construction of a new mosque which will include a high dome and minarets. "It is high time that people in Germany raise their voices to support dialogue and peaceful coexistence and take a stand against injustice, racism and extremism," Rafet Ozturk, of the DITIB Turkish-Islamic Union in a statement.

Leftist groups are planning counter-protests on Saturday and the Christian-Muslim Peace Initiative said it would put up 500 placards around Cologne with the slogan "dialogue and tolerance instead of aggression and fear!". "The events in Cologne linked to the planned mosque-of which right-wing populists' activities are unfortunately a part -- will be watched across Germany and Europe," said Ruprecht Polenz, head of parliament's foreign policy committee and a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative
s.

The congress has also sparked anger in Islamic countries. Earlier this month, Iran called on the French presidency of the European Union to stop the congress and summoned the French charge d'affaires in Tehran to the Foreign Ministry's human rights department, according to the IRNA agency.

Jean-Marie Le Pen, leader of France's National Front, Austrian far-right Freedom Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache and members of Belgium's Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) party are due at the congress on Saturday, says Pro-Cologne's website. Media have reported between 1,000 and 1,500 people are expected to join the Pro-Cologne march on Saturday.

Everywhere in Germany, mosques are growing like mushrooms from the ground and ... headscarves are flooding our streets. Therefore we call on you to support our fight against the Islamisation of Germany!" says Pro-Cologne on its website. The construction of mosques has provoked scepticism in several European countries. Some critics equate them with "Islamisation" and others worry mosques could be a recruiting ground for terrorists.

About 3.2 million Muslims live in Germany, more than half of whom are of Turkish origin. The government talks a lot about boosting integration but has taken steps, such as bringing in a citizenship test, which have offended minorities. - Reuters