German concern over Koran distribution

[Baltimatt]

Salafist group raises concern from political parties, Muslims.

After more than 300,000 copies of the Muslim holy book were reportedly distributed in German cities during Christian holy week, major political parties have announced that they will push for closer monitoring of Salafist groups advocating fundamentalist Islam.

...

Large Muslim associations in German were also critical of the initiative. “The Koran is not some PR flyer to be handed out like mass merchandise,” Ayman Mazyek, the chair of the Central Council of Muslims, told the Catholic News Agency. Kenan Kolat, the chair of Germany’s Turkish community, said the action reminded him of Jehovah’s Witnesses. While it was not forbidden to distribute the Koran, Kolat told Die Welt that “the question to be asked are: Are the Salafists acting aggressively? Are they disturbing people?”

[Baltimatt]

http://www.welt.de/newsticker/dpa_nt...rksamkeit.html

«Ihre Attraktivität für junge Menschen liegt in der Vereinfachung der Religion durch klare Verbote und Gebote. Man hat nach ihrem theologischen Verständnis zu leben, sonst kommt man nicht ins Paradies.»

SPD-Fraktionsgeschäftsführer Thomas Oppermann erklärte in Berlin, die Gruppe der Salafisten benutze die Religion nur als Deckmantel. «Sie betreibt in Wirklichkeit eine aggressive Propaganda.» Und: «Nicht jeder Salafist ist ein Terrorist. Aber die Gruppe der Salafisten hat ein ambivalentes Verhältnis zur Gewalt und bietet einen Nährboden für Terrorismus.» Diese Salafisten sollten isoliert werden. «Wir sollten all jene Muslime unterstützen und bestärken, die einen modernen und weltoffenen Islam wollen.»

"The attraction for young people is found in the simplification of religion through clear prohibitions and commands. One has to live according to their religious understanding, or one does not enter paradise.

SPD party leader Thomas Oppermann explained in Berlin, that the group of Salafists uses religion as a cover. "In reality, they are conducting aggressive propaganda." Also, "Not every Salafist is a terrorist. But Salafists as a group have an ambivalent relationship to violence and serves as fertile ground for terrorism." These Salafists need to be isolated. "We should support and strengthen those Muslims that want a modern and open-minded Islam."

[bullmikey]

Somehow I can’t picture the Germans doing the bowing to Mecca thing so many times a day; it would put creases in their designer jeans and cause a serious dent in their visits to the local Guest House. Besides, they like their beer, wine, and pork schnitzel too much.

[Baltimatt]

Apparently, the Salafists have named their action "Lies!", which means "Read!" in the singular familiar imperative. English speakers will see that word differently.

[Baltimatt]

http://www.20min.ch/dyim/275847/B.M6...topelement.jpg

LIES!
IM NAMEN DEINES HERRN
DER DICH ERSCHAFFEN HAT

READ!
IN THE NAME OF YOUR LORD
WHO CREATED YOU

[betamanlet]

I wonder which verb islamists in Germany would use for "to eat" when referring to infidels?

Essen oder fressen?

That would speak volumes what they think about infidels.

[Baltimatt]

Beta--

For those who don't know German, essen is when humans eat while fressen is used for animals' eating.

[Baltimatt]

Sura 47:12

Allah lässt diejenigen, die glauben und gute Werke tun, in Gärten eingehen, in denen Bäche fließen; die aber, die ungläubig sind, genießen und fressen wie das Vieh, und das Feuer wird ihre Wohnstatt sein.

Allah allows those who believe and do good works to go into the gardens where brooks flow, but those who are not believers enjoy and eat like cattle, and the fire will be their abode.

[betamanlet]

Well, since it's in the koran they can't get in trouble for it.

[Baltimatt]

Annual Islam conference held Thursday

The conference brings together government and Muslim leaders. The conference came out against the Salafis, but also against forced marriage and domestic violence.

Vorbeugende Maßnahmen müssten sich aber nicht nur mit Islamismus und Antisemitismus unter Muslimen befassen, sondern auch mit der Islamfeindlichkeit in Teilen der Gesellschaft. Ausdrücklich verurteilte Friedrich auch den Rechtsextremismus, der nach der Neonazi-Mordserie mit zehn Toten vielen Muslimen Angst macht. «Die Botschaft muss sein: Alle Menschen in unserem Land sollen in Sicherheit und Freiheit leben können.»

Unmittelbar vor der Konferenz sorgte Unionsfraktionschef Volker Kauder mit Äußerungen zum Islam für heftige Reaktionen. Der CDU-Politiker widersprach erneut der Aussage des früheren Bundespräsidenten Christian Wulff, wonach auch der Islam zu Deutschland gehöre. «Der Islam ist nicht Teil unserer Tradition und Identität in Deutschland und gehört somit nicht zu Deutschland», sagte Kauder der «Passauer Neuen Presse» (Donnerstag).

Preventive measures must not just be concerned with Islamism and anti-Semitism among Muslims, but also with Islamophobia in parts of society. [Interior Minister Hans-Peter] Friedrich expressly condemned extreme Rightists, who have caused concern among Muslims after a series of Neo-Nazi murders leaving ten people dead. "The message must be: all people in our country should be able to live in security and freedom."

Right before the conference, [Christian Democratic] Union party head Volker Kauder caused heated reaction with his comments about Islam. The CDU politician contradicted anew the statement of former President Christian Wulff, who had stated that also Islam belonged to Germany. "Islam is not part of our tradition and identity in Germany and thus does not belong to Germany," Kauder told the Passauer Neue Presse (Thursday).

Kauder's comments brought criticism from inside and outside his party.

[kudzu]

Can't the Germans handle this problem with concentration camps, matt ?

I mean, it's not like they haven't done it before.

[Baltimatt]

kudzu--

They're very sensitive about that.

[kudzu]

kudzu--

They're very sensitive about that.

As well they should be.

Don't need us coming over there and putting them in their place again, do they ?

[Baltimatt]

Kudzu--

Uhhh, we're still there.

[Baltimatt]

Turkish-born Member of Parliament hands out Grundgesetz

Memet Kilic, the integration spokesman for the Green party faction in the Bundestag, handed out copies of Germany's Basic Law (Grundgesetz) or constitution in German, Turkish, and English in Pforzheim, Baden-Württemberg.

"Die Verteilaktion ist keine Aktion gegen Koran oder Bibel und Tora, sondern nur ein Eintreten für unsere Grundwerte", sagt der in der Türkei geborene Jurist. "Das halte ich in einer säkularen Gesellschaft für essentiell." Die "vernünftige Mitte" der Gesellschaft müsse deutlich machen, dass es Grundwerte gebe, die alle Demokraten verbinden, sagte Kilic. "Ich habe immer für das Grundgesetz geworben, auch in Migrantenverbänden - aber auf die Verteilaktion haben mich tatsächlich die Salafisten gebracht."

"The distribution campaign is not a campaign against the Koran or Bible and Torah, but standing for our basic values," the turkish-born lawyer said. "I consider it essential for a secular society." The "common-sense middle" of society needs to make clear that there are basic values that unite all democrats, Kilic said. "I have always campaigned for the Grundgesetz, including in immigrant associations, but the Salafists have brought me to this distribution activity.