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| 'Islam unconstitutional': AfD party prepares program after election success | 'Islam unconstitutional': AfD party prepares program after election success |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The program of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which it is to formalize at a congress in two weeks, will be anti-Islamic. The party deputy chief says Islam is a political ideology not compatible with the German constitution. | The program of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which it is to formalize at a congress in two weeks, will be anti-Islamic. The party deputy chief says Islam is a political ideology not compatible with the German constitution. |
| "We are in favor of a ban on minarets, on muezzins and a ban on full veils," Beatrix von Storch, who is also a member of the European Parliament, told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung. | "We are in favor of a ban on minarets, on muezzins and a ban on full veils," Beatrix von Storch, who is also a member of the European Parliament, told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung. |
| "Islam is in itself a political ideology that is not compatible with the basic law," she said. | "Islam is in itself a political ideology that is not compatible with the basic law," she said. |
| The program would also call for tight control over mosques and Islamic religious schools teaching in Germany. | The program would also call for tight control over mosques and Islamic religious schools teaching in Germany. |
| Her deputy Alexander Gauland, who leads the AfD in Brandenburg, voiced similar stance. | Her deputy Alexander Gauland, who leads the AfD in Brandenburg, voiced similar stance. |
| "Islam is not a religion like Catholic or Protestant Christianity, but rather intellectually always associated with the takeover of the state," he said. "That is why the Islamization of Germany is a danger." | "Islam is not a religion like Catholic or Protestant Christianity, but rather intellectually always associated with the takeover of the state," he said. "That is why the Islamization of Germany is a danger." |
| He went further to state that an enlightened Euro-Islam is impossible, calling the religion a foreign body. Storch said there is a place for Muslims in Germany as long as the secular law is not challenged. | He went further to state that an enlightened Euro-Islam is impossible, calling the religion a foreign body. Storch said there is a place for Muslims in Germany as long as the secular law is not challenged. |
| AfD’s Euroskeptic and anti-immigration message resonated with German voters during last month’s regional elections. The party won seats in three state legislatures while pushing down Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats. In Saxony-Anhalt AfD won 24 percent of the vote, surpassing the chancellor’s party. | AfD’s Euroskeptic and anti-immigration message resonated with German voters during last month’s regional elections. The party won seats in three state legislatures while pushing down Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats. In Saxony-Anhalt AfD won 24 percent of the vote, surpassing the chancellor’s party. |
| READ MORE: Anti-immigrant AfD makes huge gains in votes, Merkel suffers losses – early figures | READ MORE: Anti-immigrant AfD makes huge gains in votes, Merkel suffers losses – early figures |
| The party’s success mirrors the advancement of likely-minded political forces elsewhere in Europe, where the unfolding refugee crisis fuels public anger. | The party’s success mirrors the advancement of likely-minded political forces elsewhere in Europe, where the unfolding refugee crisis fuels public anger. |
| Critics accuse such parties of playing people’s darker emotions and promoting xenophobic ideas. AfD party has been accused of using language similar to that of Adolf Hitler. | Critics accuse such parties of playing people’s darker emotions and promoting xenophobic ideas. AfD party has been accused of using language similar to that of Adolf Hitler. |
| The Council of Muslims in Germany rejected AfD’s assessment, saying Islam is no different for Judaism or Christianity and is compatible with a secular state. | |
| "It is the first time since Hitler's Germany that there is a party which discredits and existentially threatens an entire religious community," the chairman of the council Aiman Mazyek told public broadcaster NDR. | |
| The secretary general of the Council of Europe, Thorbjorn Jagland, warned that such statements are "contrary to European values". | |
| "It is right and necessary to have a debate about important issues like integration and education, but to depict Islam as a threat to our society is wrong and hurtful to millions of European Muslims," he said in a statement. | |
| “AfD attack against Islam is not directed against Muslims only, but against an open and carrying society,” commented Christine Buchholz, a left-wing German MP. | “AfD attack against Islam is not directed against Muslims only, but against an open and carrying society,” commented Christine Buchholz, a left-wing German MP. |
| The AfD was founded in 2013 by economics professor Bernd Lucke and initially stood against the EU’s single currency, but for the EU membership. Last year, however, it saw a leader and ideology change with chemist and businesswoman Frauke Petry coming to power by winning public support with her anti-immigrant rhetoric. Beatrix von Storch is a deputy-chair and a spokesperson for the party. | The AfD was founded in 2013 by economics professor Bernd Lucke and initially stood against the EU’s single currency, but for the EU membership. Last year, however, it saw a leader and ideology change with chemist and businesswoman Frauke Petry coming to power by winning public support with her anti-immigrant rhetoric. Beatrix von Storch is a deputy-chair and a spokesperson for the party. |