Germany puts Islamic prayer schedule on road signs for the first time
A municipal sign featuring a mosque symbol and Friday prayer times has sparked discontent among local residents.
The authorities of the Bavarian city of Penzberg have, for the first time in the history of Germany, placed information about Muslim prayer schedules on official road signs at the entrance to the city. This is reported by Christian Daily.
On a municipal sign, next to a mosque symbol, the initiators placed Friday prayer times for both winter and summer periods. The mayor made the decision to introduce this innovation following a joint meeting with spiritual leaders of the communities. The innovation provoked protests on social media. Unknown individuals completely painted over the mosque sign with black paint three days after it was installed.
Imam of the Islamic community Benyamin Idriz called the authorities' decision a recognition of the equal rights of religious communities and freedom of religion. "In a time of growing prejudice and polarization, these visible signs carry an important message. People of different faiths are a natural part of our society," said Benyamin Idriz.
The sociological agency Idea conducted a survey of 2,000 respondents across the country. Fifty-eight percent of those surveyed opposed the inclusion of Muslim prayer times on road signs. Only 22 percent supported the initiative, while 16 percent of citizens had not formed an opinion.
Sociologists recorded the largest number of opponents among non-believers, where 67 percent of citizens expressed opposition. Among Protestants, 65 percent opposed the innovation, while among Catholics the figure was 55 percent. Only young people under the age of 29 approved of the initiative by a majority vote.
As the Union of Orthodox Journalists reported, Germany opened the first faculty of Islamic theology in Western Europe.
