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Koehler called for enhancing coexistence between the German people irrespective of their race and religion.
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By
Ahmad Al-Matboli, IOL Correspondent
BERLIN,
November 4, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – German President Horst Koehler
on Thursday, November 4, together with bishops of different
denominations wished the Muslim minority in the country a happy `Eid
Al-Fitr, calling them part and parcel of society.
Impressed
by the show of Muslim unity on the first day of `Eid, which marks the
end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, Koehler urged the German
people to enhance coexistence between one another irrespective of
their race and religion.
Bishops
of the country's different Churches were also keen on offering their
traditional congratulations.
The
Catholic Church said in a statement that Muslims and Christians in
Germany should act in unison to face up to the challenges ahead for
the welfare of their homeland.
Several
mosques across the country further received congratulator cables and
`Eid greetings from churches.
Officials
in some states also held the traditional annual reception for
representatives of the Muslim minority.
There
are some 3.4 million Muslims in Germany, two thirds of whom are of
Turkish origin.
Islam
comes third in Germany after Protestant and Catholic Christianity.
`Eid
of Cookies
German
Muslims marked this year `Eid on Thursday with prayers, traditional
family visits and a small firework display.
In
the Northern Rhein, which has 650,000 Muslims, Muslim children are
luckier as they get an official `Eid holiday from their schools unlike
their peers in other states.
The
WDR television covered the Muslim joy after `Eid prayers, highlighting
the traditional sweet and gift giving, dubbing the Muslim occasion as
the "`Eid of Cookies."
"We
are used to marking `Eid with Kahk (cookies) and family visits
as if we are home," Pakistani Bani Khan told the broadcaster.
The
Islamic Center in Munich further held its `Eid party which brought
together German Muslims of some 50 races.
The
center translated the `Eid sermon in four languages: German, Arabic,
Turkish and English.
Seeking
to highlight the better image of Islam, a "Week for Islam"
was organized in September by the German Muslims in the city of
Karlsruhe.
Titled
"Reach Out Hand For Me", the week, which ran from September
29 till October 3, further sought to enhance mutual understanding with
other sectors of German society.
In
December of last year, some 40 Muslim youths, aged 18-30, set up a
kiosk in central Hamburg, distributing illustrative
materials on Islam among attentive and enthusiastic passers-by.
