A rendering of the new mosque in Cologne. Photo: DPA

Cornerstone laid for controversial Cologne mosque

Published: 7 Nov 09 13:56 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20091107-23099.html

The symbolic first stone was laid for one of Europe’s largest mosques at ceremony in Cologne on Saturday after years of controversy dividing the city’s residents.

ADVERTISING
The futuristic mosque, which is being built under the auspices of the Ditib Turkish association, will have a large dome and two 55-metre minarets. Critics of the project say they will spoil Cologne’s skyline by taking attention away from the city’s famous Gothic cathedral.

“We’re not just laying a cornerstone for a mosque and community centre,” said Ditb spokeswoman Ayse Aydin according to public broadcaster WDR, “We’re also laying here a cornerstone for our common future.”

The debate over the mosque’s construction has come to symbolise the conflict between Europe’s growing Muslim population and those who believe Muslim immigration to the continent should be curtailed. Plans for the mosque have drawn protesters from around Germany and Europe, including right-wing extremists. One such planned rally was canceled by police for fears of violent protests.

To avoid inflaming public sentiment against the project, Ditib agreed to not broadcast the call to prayer to the neighbourhood from the minarets and to keep the building’s height the same as nearby structures.

When completed in two years, the mosque will hold between 2,000 to 4,000 worshipers and replace a series of ad-hoc places of worship that have developed around the city as Cologne’s Muslim population grew.

At the event, Cologne’s former mayor Fritz Schramma described the mosque’s architecture as “a symbol of an opening blossom, that invites you to peek inside.”

DPA/The Local (news@thelocal.de)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

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

Your comments about this article:

14:46 November 7, 2009 by piper1
I wonder if we "Westerners" are allowed to build a "Christian Church" in Saudi Arabia or Iran or Iraq or Syria or............................................
14:49 November 7, 2009 by So36
Your point being? Any free society must allow houses of worship for minority religions. Or are you implying Cologne should be as repressive as Saudi Arabia?
16:21 November 7, 2009 by Heinrich der Zweite
I would'nt say Islam is a minority religion. And after much controversy the mosque is

being built. Piper1's list is not exactly of free societies and even if the "Christian Church" says that it just want's to help the poor they don't want to know.
18:42 November 7, 2009 by yourfriend
Churches are already built and allowed in Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Egypt and many muslim countries. Saudi Arabia being centre of Islam does not allow building of Churches in same way Vatican city being center of Catholics does not allow building of Mosques.
18:48 November 7, 2009 by delusion1982
@Piper1, switch on your brain before writing idiotic comments.

Cologne is not the Vatican (wrt building a church in Mekkah for example), and the oldest church in the history is built in Syria. There are famous churches spreading all around the Arabic world (where Christianity came from).

I am all in all against building public and collective worship monuments anyhow, which are nothing but brain washing centers and out-of-community gangs (specially mosques).

But one should be careful in remembering that in a free democratic society one should allow for personal freedom while keeping respect with the constitution and law.

@LAURA EX-MUS, building a mosque will still not allow muslim men to break the law (beating their wives, raping them, inheritance laws...) except unfortunately if the women themselves accept this. So as long as Muslim women don't rise up and fight for their rights and independence, they will always be suppressed. They should take advantage of being in a free strong society where they can get help if they ask for it.
19:02 November 7, 2009 by HerrDinksbumps
21:43 November 7, 2009 by BnB
Any decision about this building should be based only on architecture and planning and not on what is done inside it, as long as it's legal.

I think that it looks cool and refreshing but that's just my personal opinion and others may disagree.If anyone objects to what is done or preached in the mosque, then they should be campaigning against that activity and not against the building.

LAURA EX-MUS, there are aspects of almost every religion that are hostile to women. For example women are far less free to divorce in Judaism than in Islam, and what are the odds of the next Pope being a woman? That does not excuse everything that is preached in Islam, just that every other religion should face the same scrutiny.
00:06 November 8, 2009 by Fredfeldman
This building is another milestone in the Islamization of europe. In an age where Christianity as a formal religion is losing its appeal on the continent this mosque is the embodiment of Moslem hope for the eventual adoption of Sharia law throughout the EU. Islam is a political movement as well as a religion and should be universally recognized as such by its intended "converts" and treated as a sect like the Scientologists. The difference being the latter are in it for the money while the former are in it for the religious and political control. Both are equally dangerous in my opinion.
00:45 November 8, 2009 by Neutral
It is somewhat omenous that debates on stories about moslems in this newspapers is extensive. It is true that any mosque or synagogue in Europe should not be very grand or ostentious so that it eclipses the traditional Christian character of European landscape. I think, this is somewhing for the town planners. However, this should not be occasion for stereo-typed bashing of Moslems, based on some half-true and selctive information of Islam, taken out of context. Besides, it is also a little bit annoying that Islam is being associated with immigrants, minority or some Arab countries. Doesn't a civilized country like Germany respect the basic human rights of freedom of religion of its citizens (without identifying him/her as he/she is immigrant or not, whether he/she is Chirstian or Jewish or Moslem or Hindu)?
09:11 November 8, 2009 by Johnne
Human right and freedom is connected to responsibility and "right thinking" free democratic society or not, the mosque is a symbol of Islamic movement/culture being imposed on the west. My advice to the Germans is to stop it.
09:51 November 8, 2009 by Neutral
It seems that some of the commentors needs to have a better understanding of human rights and its definition. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, may be read. Human rights are very basic rights of a human being; they are not linked to, or based on, anything else.
10:34 November 8, 2009 by Dizz
They also need a better understanding of the scriptures of all the major religions and of how these have been (mis)interpreted and (mis)applied through the ages, before choosing to comment on one in particular, especially in the form of an implied comparison. Yeah I know, I may as well wish for "world peace".

Anyway, I think it looks cool!
15:44 November 8, 2009 by student4ever
@Piper1: I was surprised to see how missinformed or unaware people are of the facts.

Just for your information, I have grown up even listening to the bells of churches ringing right in the cities of Pakistan. Its not forbidden there for churches to keep the sound of bells inside as its here for mosques.... :) Even being muslim nobody from my surroundings objected that.

@Laura-Exmus: I simply would like to say you also might be a bit less informed about the topic. Did you read Quran complete and urself? Did you ever read how Prophet Mohammed lived and acted?.
21:38 November 8, 2009 by eddymanly
It is just about building a big mosque!!!! what is the problem?
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
For comment quoting and other advanced formatting features,
try posting via this article's discussion forum page instead.
Today's headlines
Photo: DPA

Match-fixing ring rocks European football

Some 200 football matches in nine European countries including at least three Champions League games may have manipulated in a huge match-fixing scandal, German prosecutors said on Friday. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

Photo: a screenshot of taz.de

Editorial feud erects artistic six-metre penis

In a massive escalation of a long-standing editorial feud, the newspaper Die Tageszeitung has unveiled an artwork depicting the naked editor-in-chief of its right-wing rival Bild sporting a six-metre penis up the façade of its headquarters. READ (8 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Disabled woman fired for eating pâté meant for patients

A disabled Hannover woman working at a nursing home has been fired after 18 years on the job for eating pâté intended for patients, daily Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung reported on Friday. READ (14 COMMENTS) »

A file photo of Hitler in 1925 at an NSDAP meeting in Bavaria. Photo: DPA

France finds lost spy file on young Hitler

Secret French intelligence service documents on the young Adolf Hitler have surfaced in the country’s national archives, daily Le Monde reported on Friday. READ (4 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Von der Leyen moots expanded child subsidy for poor families

German Family Minister Ursula von der Leyen has proposed expanding a monthly child subsidy for low income parents, daily Passauer Neue Presse reported on Friday. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Defence minister expects Karzai to take action

NATO countries expect "more than just words" from Afghan President Hamid Karzai after he promised to combat corruption, German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said Thursday. READ (3 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Springlike highs expected for weekend

Anyone planning a weekend outing will enjoy sunshine and springlike temperatures in the coming days as a high pressure system moves over the Alps and into central Germany, the DWD weather service reported on Friday. READ »

Photo: DPA

Chestnut tree kills pedestrian

A 47-year-old Frankfurt woman died late on Thursday after a chestnut tree suddenly fell and crushed her, police reported. READ (7 COMMENTS) »

More Society
Highlights
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
Born amid Cold War rivalry yet loved by children on both sides of the Iron Curtain, Germany’s bedtime TV character the Sandman celebrates his 50th birthday this weekend

See all ads | Join the Marketplace

Jobs in Germany, in English

578 jobs in Germany, in English
343 new jobs this week
67 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Latest news from The Local in Sweden
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
JOB: Account Executive Global Brand Team
Edelman, the worlds largest privately owned PR agency, is looking for a native English speaking Account Executive (m/f) for the Global Team in Hamburg (starting in January 2010)
FULL JOB DETAILS
Food and drink gift baskets
We offer a wide range of exquisite and unique hampers, elegantly decorated for all occasions. Our service is first class and allows you to send personalised baskets to your loved ones across Europe.
FIND OUT MORE
Snappy summary of the week's best stories
The newsletter is sent out every Friday with an easily swallowed digest of the week's happenings allowing you to pepper your conversations with nuggets of news about the issues of the hour.
SIGN UP HERE>>>
Advertising 2.0
MARKETPLACE - promote your business to half a million targeted readers a month on The Local. Find great products and services in Germany or tell The Local's readers about your own business.
CLICK HERE>>>
Sales manager - Berlin
The Local is seeking a talented and experienced media sales professional for our online advertising sales in Germany
FULL JOB DETAILS
Best Foreign exchange rates dealing - all major currencies
Foreign Currency Direct voted as offering the best exchange rates. All currency exchange transactions are managed by Ben Amrany. We guarantee that readers of The Local/Toytown receive a 5 star service
FULL DETAILS HERE>>>
Editorial intern - Berlin
The Local needs an editorial intern at its office in Berlin starting in January
FULL JOB DETAILS

The Local Europe GmbH
Linienstrasse 214
10119 Berlin
Germany