Effort to halt mosque building in Dresden unsuccessful
Defying Dresden Mosque Construction Petition's Demands
The city council's responsible committee boldly declined the residents' plea. Their major concern? Noise control.
"Religious freedom has deep roots in our Basic Law, ensuring spaces for diverse religious gatherings are usually shielded," committee chair Annekathrin Klepsch elucidated, defending their decision.
Embracing the Initiative
"In light of the region's circumstances, remember that a faith community has the legal right to construct a place of worship on their property, given due regard for the prevailing architectural context," Klepsch added in her reasoning. She anticipates that renovating the house of worship will offer suitable prayer rooms for believers, ultimately reducing noise levels.
The future mosque is set to rise in Johannstadt on Marschnerstraße. As per the plans, it's due to accommodate roughly 300 Muslims in the prayer room. As of now, the Marwa Elsherbiny Cultural and Educational Centre is cramped within the existing building on Marschnerstraße.
In June, the plans for the new building were presented to the design commission, with the project's future uncertain.
Constitutional Concerns
The new mosque's construction sparks heated controversy. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution identified links between the association chairman and radical Islamists, raising fears of extremist influence. The imam of the cultural centre, who owns the property where the mosque will be built, has been subject to the Office's surveillance because of his association with the Muslim Brotherhood.
Security authorities have long warned about the German branch of the Muslim Brothers, cautioning that the Islamist movement may pose a future threat to democracy.
If you'd like to share your thoughts about this issue, feel free to contact us via WhatsApp at 0351-32 33 34 35 or leave a voice message.
We've received a few listener contributions:
"I too signed the petition, hoping the mosque construction can still be stopped. The indicators of our religious freedom being perverted are visibly apparent. Responsible governance should address the public's concerns, which feels lacking in this situation." (Tilo)
"Our Basic Law needs revision, or perhaps a citizen's initiative or decree! Though buildings of faith are strongly protected in almost all Islamic countries, yet our approach seemingly ignores common sense!" (Volker) The opinions presented here represent the listeners' perspectives alone.
"Given the ongoing debate about the new mosque in Johannstadt, it's important to note that the Basic Law, which guarantees religious freedom, also requires due regard for architectural context and noise control in such decisions," emphasizes committee chair Annekathrin Klepsch, addressing the concerns raised by some listeners.
"Despite the disputes, it's crucial to remember that politics and general-news should always be concerned with the well-being of the community and the preservation of our democratic values," notes Volker, expressing his thoughts on the current controversy.
