Germany
In Germany, Syrians find mosques too conservative
By RNS staff — October 31, 2016
COLOGNE, Germany — Arabic speaking mosques are often short of funds, or else supported by Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states. Some back ultra-conservative or highly literal interpretations of Islam, such as Wahhabism or Salafism.
Brexit prompts some Jewish Britons to reconcile with German roots
By Jerome Socolovsky — September 21, 2016
LONDON (Reuters) -- For Rabbi Julia Neuberger and other British Jews applying for German citizenship, the decision taps into deep emotional baggage due to the weight of history.
German conservatives call for partial ban on face veil
By RNS staff — August 20, 2016
(Reuters) The CDU's calls for a partial ban come as it has lost support to the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which says Islam is incompatible with the constitution.
France and Germany search for solutions to Islamist challenge
By Tom Heneghan — August 10, 2016
PARIS (RNS) Pressure is mounting there because of last year's rapid influx of refugees from the Muslim world, which has challenged state and local authorities to integrate them better.
In Germany, secular ‘confirmation’ thrives again
By guest — July 22, 2016
HAMBURG, Germany (RNS) It has been 125 years since this group of anti-church, humanist thinkers established themselves in this port city, and in an increasingly irreligious country the tradition it promoted -- akin to a confirmation ceremony without religion -- is undergoing a rediscovery.
Pope John Paul II relic stolen from Cologne Cathedral
By guest — June 6, 2016
BERLIN - A cloth with a drop of blood from former Pope John Paul II has been stolen from Cologne Cathedral, German police said.
Anti-Semitism among refugees a quandary for Germany
By guest — June 3, 2016
(RNS) Anti-Semitism among refugees from Arab Middle Eastern countries is growing, in a nation that is acutely aware of the memory of the Holocaust.
German Protestant bishop wants Islam classes in all state schools
By RNS staff — May 29, 2016
BERLIN (Reuters) Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm told the Heilbronner Stimme newspaper that teaching Islam in schools nationwide would give Muslim pupils a chance to take a critical approach to their own religion.
German politicians suggest taxing Muslims to fight radicalization
By Tom Heneghan — May 4, 2016
(RNS) Creating a “mosque tax” for Germany’s 4 million Muslims, who make up about 5 percent of the population, would tap a broad base of contributions that could replace foreign funds.
German cardinal tarred as ‘Antichrist’ for defending Muslims
By Jerome Socolovsky — April 28, 2016
(RNS) Support for far-right politicians who espouse anti-Muslim views has grown amid the influx of over 1 million immigrants to Germany last year.
Muslim theology faculties develop an ‘Islam for Germany’
By Tom Heneghan — April 27, 2016
(RNS) The practical approach these faculties have taken contrasts sharply with the increasingly shrill declarations coming from Germany’s far-right.
German anti-Muslim group founder in court over hate speech
By RNS staff — April 19, 2016
BERLIN — Lutz Bachmann, the co-founder of Germany's anti-Islam PEGIDA group , is charged over sending social media posts in which he called refugees "cattle," "garbage" and "scumbags."
German Protestants agree to help rebuild notorious Potsdam church
By Tom Heneghan — April 18, 2016
(RNS) There’s a whiff of nostalgia around the restoration, with critics claiming that the aim is to restore some of the glory of the Prussian kingdom that dominated Imperial Germany.
Islam incompatible with German constitution, says AfD party
By RNS staff — April 17, 2016
BERLIN — The party is profiting from popular angst about how Germany can cope with an influx of migrants, over a million of whom arrived last year.
Top Anglican archbishop: Fear of refugees ‘entirely reasonable’
By Trevor Grundy — March 11, 2016
CANTERBURY, England (RNS) The archbishop also rejected as "absolutely outrageous" claims that people worried about refugees were racist.
