Minister tells Islam conference Muslims are a part of Germany

German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has said that “Muslims are a part of Germany” on the opening day of the German Islam Conference. “Muslims belong to Germany,”Seehofer said on Wednesday in Berlin as he presided over the fourth German Islam Conference (DIK). The comments drew particular attention given Seehofer’s past statement that Islam was not […]

German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has said that “Muslims are a part of Germany” on the opening day of the German Islam Conference.

“Muslims belong to Germany,”Seehofer said on Wednesday in Berlin as he presided over the fourth German Islam Conference (DIK). The comments drew particular attention given Seehofer’s past statement that Islam was not part of Germany.

Seehofer said Muslims “have the same rights and duties as all citizens of this country.” There can be “no reasonable doubt” about that, he said.

Seehofer, a conservative who’s set to step down as leader of Bavaria’s Christian Social Union (CSU), caused controversy in March when he said that “Islam doesn’t belong to Germany,” and that “Germany has been shaped by Christianity.”

However, even in that March interview with mass-circulation daily Bild, Seehofer had said: “Muslims who live here are naturally part of Germany. That does not of course mean that we therefore give up on our country-specific traditions and customs out of false consideration.” (DW)

The German Islam Conference, which was first launched in 2006 by former Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble, brings together German Muslims and officials of the federal and local governments.

The aim of the conference is to improve the religious and social participation of Muslims in Germany and to further develop the dialogue between government representatives and Islamic organizations. (DW).