Controversy over the anti-Islamic programs of the Alternative for Germany party

While the far-right Alternative for Germany party plans to include the phrase "Islam does not belong to Germany" in its platform, the German government insists that the guarantee of religious freedom enshrined in the country's constitution remains valid.

The anti-Islamic agenda of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has drawn strong criticism from German democratic parties and institutions.

Beatrice von Stross and Alexander Gauland, members of the party's leadership, said in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntag Zeitung newspaper on Sunday, April 18: "Islam is a worldview that is not compatible with the German constitution."

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

According to the two, the removal of Islamic symbols from public places is to be included in the party's future program. Mosque spires, the call to prayer, and the veil were among these symbols.

Leaders of the Alternative for Germany party have also called for strict control of Quran classes in some mosques, saying that teaching extremist Islamic principles in these classes should be prevented.

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

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

According to him, Muslims in Germany can practice their religious rituals, "but it must be clear that legal standards take precedence over these principles and that in cases where Muslims want to implement Sharia, our laws must be given priority."

Protest of the parties

According to the assessment of the German coalition parties, the new plan of the Alternative for Germany party is in conflict with the principles of the country's constitution. On Monday (April 18), Frank-Josef Jung, head of the Christian Democratic and Christian Social parties' parliamentary group for church and other religions, told the newspaper Die Welt, noting that the Alternative for Germany's right-wing tendencies are becoming more extreme. "The party's position on Islam reflects the extremist views of its leaders, which are not in line with the principles of the constitution," he said.

Christine Griese, the Social Democratic Party's head of church and religious affairs, also called the Alternative for Germany party's program plan contrary to legal standards.

In an interview with Die Welt, Griese noted that the party's extremist leaders "are fueling unfounded prejudices in German society in a very dangerous way."

According to Christine Griese, more than 90 percent of Muslims in Germany act within the framework of the country's laws. The Social Democratic Party's head of church and religion, stressed that a religion should not be rejected because of the actions of a small extremist group.

Armin Lachte, deputy secretary general of the Christian Social Party, also criticized the party's campaign against Islam in an interview with the Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung and Passauer Neue Presse newspapers, calling it a new phenomenon that "causes divisions in society."

Lasht believes that the extremist positions of these individuals are contrary to the principles of the constitution. He warned: “When a party consistently violates the principles of the constitution, the relevant institutions will monitor and evaluate these actions more carefully.”

German government response

German government spokesman Steffen Seibert pointed to the provisions of Article 4 of the constitution, which governs, among other things, freedom of religion and conscience, and noted that this principle remains “valid.”

Seibert declined to assess the anti-Islamic statements of the Alternative for Germany leaders, saying, “When these things are not yet included in the party program, there is no reason to interpret them.” He once again repeated German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s famous statement that “Islam belongs to Germany.”

Criticism of the head of the Central Muslim Council

Iman Mazik, head of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, considered the extremist party's new plan similar to the approaches of the Nazi Party, saying: "This is the first time since Hitler that the credibility of a religious community has been questioned and its existence threatened."

In an interview with the news program of German TV Channel 1, Mazik emphasized: "It is not Islam, but the principles of this party that are contrary to the German constitution." He said that the campaign launched by the extremist leaders of this party is against the principles of the German 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 enlightenment is one of our most important tasks." He called the argument that Muslims have also contributed to the expansion of the party's influence in Germany by engaging in extremist movements "incorrect."

Source: Deutsche Welle