Controversy Over Anti-Islam Programs of the ‘Alternative for Germany’ Party

While the far-right party ‘Alternative for Germany’ intends to include the phrase ‘Islam does not belong to Germany’ in its platform, the German government emphasizes that the guarantee of religious freedom enshrined in this country’s constitution remains valid.

The anti-Islam programs of the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) have sparked severe criticism from German democratic parties and institutions.

Beatrice von Storch and Alexander Gauland, members of the party’s leadership, said in an interview with the newspaper ‘Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung’ on Sunday, April 18: “Islam is a worldview that is incompatible with Germany’s constitution.”

Gauland called this religion a “foreign element” that will never find a “homeland” in Germany.

According to these two, the removal of Islamic symbols from public places is set to be included in the party’s future platform. Mosque domes, the call to prayer, and headscarves were cited as examples of these symbols.

The leaders of the Alternative for Germany have also called for strict control of Qur’an classes in some mosques and said that the teaching of extremist Islamic principles in these classes should be prevented.

Jörg Meuthen, another member of the leadership of the far-right party ‘Alternative for Germany,’ also called for the recognition of “the superiority of Christianity over other religions in Germany.”

In an interview with German news agency, he said: “Islam does not belong to Germany, even though the presence of Muslims in this country is a reality.”

According to him, Muslims in Germany can practice their religious rites, “but it must be clear that legal norms take precedence over these principles, and in cases where Muslims seek to apply Sharia, our laws should be given priority.”

Party Objections

According to the assessment of German coalition parties, the new plan of the ‘Alternative for Germany’ party contradicts the principles of this country’s constitution. On Monday, April 18, Frank-Josef Jung, the spokesman for the Christian Democratic and Christian Social parties’ faction on church and religious matters, referring to the fact that the right-wing tendencies of the Alternative for Germany party are becoming more extreme every day, told the newspaper ‘Die Welt’: “This party’s position on Islam demonstrates the extreme views of its leaders, which is not in line with constitutional principles.”

Christine Größe, the Social Democratic Party’s spokesperson on church and religious matters, also called the Alternative for Germany’s platform incompatible with legal standards.

Größe reminded in an interview with ‘Die Welt’ that the extremist leaders of this party “in a very dangerous way are fueling unfounded prejudices in German society.”

According to Christine Größe, more than 90 percent of Muslims in Germany operate within the framework of this country’s laws. The Social Democratic Party’s spokesperson on church and religious matters emphasized that because of the actions of a small extremist group, a religion should not be rejected.

Armin Laschet, deputy chairman of the Christian Social Union, also criticized in interviews with the newspapers ‘Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung’ and ‘Passauer Neue Presse’ the launch of a propaganda campaign by this party against Islam to gain more votes, calling it a new phenomenon that “creates divisions in sections of society.”

In Laschet’s view, the extreme positions of these people contradict constitutional principles. He warned: “When a party constantly tramples on constitutional principles, relevant institutions monitor and evaluate these actions more carefully.”

German Government’s Response

Stephan Seibert, spokesman for the German government, referring to the provisions of Article 4 of the constitution, which includes oversight of freedom of religion and conscience, reminded that this article remains “valid.”

Seibert refrained from evaluating the anti-Islam statements of the Alternative for Germany party’s leaders and said: “When these matters have not yet been included in the party platform, there is no reason to interpret them.” He once again repeated the famous statement of Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, and said that “Islam belongs to Germany.”

Criticism from the Head of the Central Council of Muslims

Aiman Mazyek, head of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, in this regard compared the far-right party’s new proposal to Nazi party approaches and said: “Since Hitler, this is the first time that the credibility of a religious community is being questioned and its existence is being threatened.”

Mazyek, in an interview with the news program of the first channel of German television, emphasized: “It is not Islam, but the principles of this party that contradict Germany’s constitution.” He said the campaign launched by the extremist leaders of this party is against the principles of Germany’s constitution.

The head of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany said: “The Alternative for Germany party is riding a wave of Islamophobia, and therefore education is one of our most important duties.” He called the discussion that Muslims also contributed to the expansion of the party’s influence in Germany through extremist actions “incorrect.”

Source: Deutsche Welle