Sharp Criticism of Politician's Proposal to Have Muslims Pray in German

November 16, 2004

Source: Deutsche Welle

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1398235,00.html

On November 16, 2004 Deutsche Welle reported, "A regional politician's proposal that prayers in German mosques should be said in German was greeted with dismay on Monday amid fears that anti-Muslim attacks may spread over the border from the Netherlands. Annette Schavan, the Christian Democratic education minister for the state of Baden-Württemberg and a contender for the state's premiership, made her radical proposal at the weekend because, she said, 'we can no longer accept that prayers in mosques should be said in languages that cannot be understood outside the Muslim community.' Schavan's proposal comes in the wake of the torching of mosques, schools and churches in the Netherlands following the killing of film director Theo van Gogh, whose work was strongly critical of Muslims. Her suggestion drew a sharp reaction from the leaders of the more than two and a half million Turks who live in Germany."