German Political Party Considers Openly Anti-Muslim Platform

A faction within ‘Alternative fur Deutschland’ wants to adopt an openly anti-Islamic stance at the party conference on April 30.

A German political party is considering adopting an openly anti-Islam stance. A faction within the ‘Alternative fur Deutschland’ party has called for a total ban on the Burqa and minarets on mosques, arguing that Islam is not a normal religion and therefore is not covered by constitutional protections for religious freedom.

“Islam is not a religion like Catholic or Protestant Christianity, but rather always associated intellectually with the takeover of a state,” the party’s leader in Brandenburg state Alexander Gauland in an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, reported Deutsche Welle.

Beatrix von Storch, deputy leader of ‘Alternative Fur Deutschland’ (Photo: © Reuters)

The party’s deputy leader, Beatrix von Storch, said “Islam is a political ideology that is not compatible with the constitution.”

AfD also reportedly wants to ban male circumcision. The party’s manifesto will be finalized before its conference on April 30.

Repositioning to be openly anti-Islam marks a break with the party’s previous anti-immigration stance and may be pushed through at the upcoming party conference. The party leader, Frauke Petry, is opposd to the shift according to the Telegraph. 

Alternative Fur Deutschland (AfD) has under 5% of the vote, but has gained seats in some regional assemblies. Its leader, Bernd Lücke, is a member of the European Parliament.

AfD’s proposals have been slammed as racist and drawn comparisons to the Nazi Party.

See Clarion Project’s statement opposing anti-Muslim bigotry.

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