• Germany edition
Photo: DPA

Animal blood thrown at Bavarian mosque

Published: 25 Oct 09 11:12 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20091025-22801.html

Unknown vandals defaced a mosque with animal blood in the Bavarian town of Elsenfeld on Saturday. The blood was discovered by children on their way to Koran studies.

Yavoz Güzel of the local German-Turkish cultural association told reporters that the attackers had filled around a dozen balloons with animal blood and thrown them against the facade of the mosque. Around 30 animal eyes had also been dumped in front of the main entrance.

The police do not have any leads at present, but are, according to a statement "investigating every avenue." As a precaution, patrols are being directed past the mosque more frequently. The police also said that their laboratory had not yet confirmed that the red substance on the walls of the building was animal blood, but all evidence suggested it was.

The mosque is part of a newly-built Turkish-German club building, and is not yet in use, though it is directly adjacent to the current mosque. The outraged Güzel described the sight of the facade as "disgusting," adding, "Whoever did this had to be a sick human being."

Spokesman for the German Islamic Council Engin Karahan linked the attack to "all these debates" of the past weeks, including the row that erupted after the controversial statements made by Berlin's former finance minister Thilo Sarrazin on Turkish and Arab immigrants.

In light of the repeated criticism of Muslims and Turks, Karahan said, "it doesn't surprise us that crazy people feel compelled to carry out such acts." He added that the deed came out of "a certain atmosphere" currently present in society, and the victimisation had reached a "barely tolerable" level.

DDP/The Local (news@thelocal.de)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Fark It! Digg This  Share everywhere
Send to a friend Printable version Twitter This

Your comments about this article:

#1
12:30 October 25, 2009 by sharif Lone
It is a shame really. I know the media reports of a very negative picture of Muslims is partly to blame, but such actions are not a healthy sign of living with each other. It happened in Germany with Jews and this repetition need immediate attention by the government.

Muslims, on the hand hand, must make sure that these places of worship are accessible to both women and men and any body interested to attend. Women should not be separated when in mosques. and no hate sermons are allowed.
Report abuse »
#2
13:06 October 25, 2009 by berlinski
Here we go again. As I said in posts regarding other articles, Germany should not forget its past. Recently, it has been criticized that German companies should be allowed to forget the sins of their forefathers, so to speak, such as recently with Porsche looking into how many slave laborers were used by their War era management. These actions by Porsche are very commendable but sadly have brought some German readers to comment that Germans should be allowed to move on from what happened 70 years ago. However, these actions in Elsenfeld prove that it is not yet time to allow Germany to move on and act like the holocaust is forgiven and forgotten. The feeling that spread throughout Germany all those years ago is sadly yet again resurfacing. I see it every day in one small way or other as I live my life in Berlin and I can see how it happened all those years ago by the daily actions of some portions of German society today.
Report abuse »
#3
17:10 October 25, 2009 by nooraza
Every time something happens to the Muslims, (although this kind of incidents are unacceptable) they like to potray themselves as if their victimisation is comparable to the Jewish Holocaust victims! Jews and non-Muslim minorities are victimized and discriminated in most Islamic-ruling countries including supposedly moderate Islamic-ruled Malaysia; and yet these are seldom condemned by Muslims everywhere!
Report abuse »
#4
20:49 October 25, 2009 by mobiusro
Muslims are victimised in Germany, they are victimised in France, they are victimised in the Netherlands... I ask you where are they not? One has to start to think that maybe in this case the majority is right?

Just an opinion.

As for the act of vandalism I totally condemn it. Attacking a "martyr" only helps him/her in his/her purpose.

@nooraza, your comment really cracked me up. Getting a wee bit gealous are we? The Jews are "the chosen" one right? Their holocaust is the most important in humankind's history right?
Report abuse »
#5
23:44 October 25, 2009 by LMB222
mobiusro: Muslims are victimized for exactly the same reasons Jews used to be, that is sticking to their differences. Yet Jews were able to show their greatness in prose, film, physics, medicine, etc., and slowly mingled with us.

Present-day Muslims seem to be stubborn about their identity, but since they don't have all the advantages Jews have shown (and the Holocaust, right), so there is little sympathy and hence little respect to them. It would be very advantageous to the Muslim population in Europe if they just stepped out of their shell and opened to us, but that I think is too much to ask.
Report abuse »
#6
07:06 October 26, 2009 by Edin
I am a Muslim, and I have to agree completely with LMB222. The reasons are there right, we all (Muslims living in western Europe) feel it on our skin in everyday life. At work, at all public institutions, etc... Although there are always good exceptions, and honour to them.

However the guy above is right.... unfortunately we Muslims are still in decadence. The great problem of Germany is that it imported only low-skilled labour from Turkey and other countries, which are uneducated, and in fact don't know enough about their own religion, other than tradition, let alone to explain it to someone. In Britain, from what I know, is a very different situation with Pakistanies, they all speak English and they are educated just the same as English.

Now this is one point where German and French as well could learn a lot. Instead of banning the teachers and/or pupils with headscarvs (in Germany and France), English found even the uniforms for police force with a headscarf and even a police bage without the cross.... Want the integration?! Then do something about it!
Report abuse »
#7
12:37 October 26, 2009 by nooraza
@mobiusro: "Muslims are victimised in Germany, they are victimised in France, they are victimised in the Netherlands... I ask you where are they not? One has to start to think that maybe in this case the majority is right? .....nooraza, your comment really cracked me up. Getting a wee bit gealous are we? The Jews are "the chosen" one right? Their holocaust is the most important in humankind's history right?"

So mobiusro, you think the extremely brutal and tragic Jewish Holocaust, unprecedented and most important in history, is funny is it? By the way, I was a Muslim; thank Christ now for my enlightement , although I would struggle for a reformed Islam (not Dark Age Arabic-style/led one including the primitive Arabic-style veiling of women/girls) due to my family still being Muslims, for true justice and love sake! Yes, the Jews were chosen to be saved by God in earlier history due to them being continously oppressed and enslaved throughout centuries, whether by Arabs, including by the Pharaohs, or the Romans! God finally heard their prayer - just like God saved them from the evil Holocaust! And I agree with LMB222; stop victimizing yourself pathetically by balming everyone else except your Dark Age cultural tradition - a Reformed Islam in this century, finally, as in Christianity long ago in 1500s, would be the just solution!
Report abuse »
#8
23:47 October 27, 2009 by slippery777
If Muslims are unhappy then go and live in a Muslim country! Problem solved.
Report abuse »
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Photo: DPA

Germany signs €3 bln in deals with Kazakhstan

Germany and Kazakhstan signed agreements Wednesday worth €3 billion ($4 billion) to cooperate on raw materials, industry and technology in Berlin. READ (1 COMMENT) »

Photo: DPA

Drunken Munich U-Bahn train driver busted

A drunken train driver for Munich’s U-Bahn metro has been relieved of his duties after being busted driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.2 percent. READ (1 COMMENT) »

Photo: DPA, The icy turbo-stalagmites in North Rhine-Westphalia

Arctic cold wreaks quirky havoc across Germany

The bitter cold is wreaking havoc across Germany in unexpected ways, with the subzero temps freezing an ice cream factory, forcing gravediggers to use jackhammers and driving penguins indoors. But Hamburg is having a party. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Merkel helps boost conservatives' popularity

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives are flying high in a new opinion poll showing them garnering their best result since her beleaguered coalition took power in 2009. Germans are also more confident the euro crisis can be beat. READ (9 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Action! Babelsberg film studio fętes 100 years

The world's oldest major film studio celebrates its 100th birthday this month with Hollywood stars and European players ready to toast Germany's mythic Studio Babelsberg outside Berlin. AFP's Deborah Cole reports. READ »

Photo: DPA

Minister calls for school 'Facebook lessons'

Family Minister Kristina Schröder has called on Germany’s high schools to teach the dangers of social networks on the internet. READ (4 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

German papers win paparazzi case in Europe

German media outlets did not infringe on celebrities' privacy rights when they printed sensitive photographs or stories, the European Court of Human Rights ruled Tuesday. READ »

Motherhood in the Fatherland
Photo: DPA

Immunisations and anal pharmacists

Motherhood in the Fatherland follows mum Sabine Devins as she navigates the cultural quirks of having a baby in Germany. In the latest instalment, she tackles immunisations and baby pharmaceuticals. READ (7 COMMENTS) »

More National
More popular articles »
Highlights
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
Germany is battling the increasingly widespread phenomenon of "burnout" which is supposedly costing its economy billions of euros each year.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
The economy in shambles, angry street protests and the government on the brink after passing unpopular reforms. But this is not Greece in 2012 – it was Germany a decade ago. Marc Young looks back to see an agenda for the future.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
Germany’s public transportation largely operates on the honour system, which makes fare dodging easy. You can have your say on how Germany should deal with the problem.
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
Macho German football legend Rudi Assauer says he has Alzheimer’s Disease, an admission one expert told The Local could help stoke discussion of an illness often considered taboo.
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
A 64-year-old tub of American lard has been deemed fit for human consumption by food safety authorities in the eastern German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Photo: Yves Gabriel
LIFESTYLE »
What's on in Germany: February 2 - 8
Photo: Columbia Pictures
LIFESTYLE »
The Local's English-language movie listings for Germany
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
As Hamburg’s legendary Reeperbahn strip gentrifies, Stephen Lowman reports how the city’s “sinful mile” is changing.
Photo: Bavarian International School
SPONSORED ARTICLE
A global education - a Bavarian community
Photo ECLA
SPONSORED ARTICLE
A truly international education at the heart of Berlin



See all ads | Join the Marketplace

Sponsored Links
Jobs in Germany, in English

1192 jobs available
838 new jobs this week
171 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Blog
Essentials

Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your style? Find a German sweetheart here.

Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather section.

Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.

Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of charge.

Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

News from the Goethe-Institut
News from Young Germany
News from DeutschlandOnline

Noticeboard
SHOW ALL NOTICES »
Toytown Germany
Germany's English-speaking crowd
Toytown Germany
FULL INDEX »
English-speaking educators (native level)

Hotel reservations in Berlin
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
Rental apartments in Berlin
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.
Trade CFDs with InterTrader.com
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!