The German government has met Muslim community leaders in Berlin amid a row over the cancellation of a Mozart opera deemed offensive to Muslims. | The German government has met Muslim community leaders in Berlin amid a row over the cancellation of a Mozart opera deemed offensive to Muslims. |
The Islam conference was a landmark initiative to improve the integration of Germany's three million Muslims. | The Islam conference was a landmark initiative to improve the integration of Germany's three million Muslims. |
It was overshadowed by the row over the opera Idomeneo. In one scene it was to show the severed heads of the Prophet Muhammad, Jesus Christ and Buddha. | It was overshadowed by the row over the opera Idomeneo. In one scene it was to show the severed heads of the Prophet Muhammad, Jesus Christ and Buddha. |
Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned "self-censorship out of fear". | Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned "self-censorship out of fear". |
"We must take care that we do not retreat out of a fear of potentially violent radicals," she said. | "We must take care that we do not retreat out of a fear of potentially violent radicals," she said. |
She was speaking after the Deutsche Oper in Berlin decided to call off November's production of Idomeneo, citing "incalculable" security risks. | She was speaking after the Deutsche Oper in Berlin decided to call off November's production of Idomeneo, citing "incalculable" security risks. |
Integration drive | Integration drive |
Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble also attacked the opera company's decision as "crazy". | Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble also attacked the opera company's decision as "crazy". |
He hosted the conference on Wednesday - the start of a two-year campaign for improved integration of Muslims in Germany, most of whom are of Turkish origin. | He hosted the conference on Wednesday - the start of a two-year campaign for improved integration of Muslims in Germany, most of whom are of Turkish origin. |
After the meeting, Mr Schaeuble said he and his guests all wanted the opera staged and would go together to see it, to send a signal. | After the meeting, Mr Schaeuble said he and his guests all wanted the opera staged and would go together to see it, to send a signal. |
Earlier he told the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung that Muslims in Germany had to accept European norms and values. | Earlier he told the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung that Muslims in Germany had to accept European norms and values. |
Mr Schaeuble wants their imams to be educated in Germany rather than Turkey. | Mr Schaeuble wants their imams to be educated in Germany rather than Turkey. |
He promised that the Berlin conference would tackle matters of substance, and would not be just an "exchange of pleasantries". | He promised that the Berlin conference would tackle matters of substance, and would not be just an "exchange of pleasantries". |
The agenda included topics such as Islamic education, the building of mosques and women's rights. | The agenda included topics such as Islamic education, the building of mosques and women's rights. |
The secretary-general of Germany's Muslim Council, Aiman Mazyek, criticised the authorities for inviting individuals rather than the four main Muslim religious bodies in Germany. | The secretary-general of Germany's Muslim Council, Aiman Mazyek, criticised the authorities for inviting individuals rather than the four main Muslim religious bodies in Germany. |
The opera furore came two weeks after Pope Benedict XVI angered many Muslims by quoting from a medieval text that criticised some teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. | The opera furore came two weeks after Pope Benedict XVI angered many Muslims by quoting from a medieval text that criticised some teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. |
The publication last year of Danish cartoons satirising Muhammad also triggered widespread Muslim protests. | The publication last year of Danish cartoons satirising Muhammad also triggered widespread Muslim protests. |
Was the German opera company right to cancel the production? Are the followers of some religions more sensitive than others? Is there a genuine threat to artistic freedom, or was the controversial scene just designed to provoke Muslims and gain publicity? | |
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