Syrians in Germany complain the country's Arab mosques are TOO conservative
SYRIANS in Germany have claimed many of the country's Arab mosques are MORE conservative than those at home.
Syrians living in germany have complained the country's Arab mosques are too conservative
A dozen Syrians in six places of worship in three cities have said they were uncomfortable with very conservative messages in Arabic-speaking mosques.
People have criticised the way the newcomers dress and practise their religion, they said.
It was also claimed some insisted the Koran be interpreted word-for-word.
In Germany, other different faiths are traditionally supported by the state.
But most of the country's four million Muslims originally came from Turkey and attend Turkish-speaking mosques which are partly funded by Ankara.
Many of them do not want to go to Turkish mosques because they do not understand the sermons and prefer to worship where people speak Arabic, they told Reuters.
It has been claimed that some insisted the Koran be interpreted word for word
They claim that in these mosques, they are often short of funds, or else supported by Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states.
At the Turkish mosque no one cares what you're wearing
Some back ultra-conservative or highly literal interpretations of Islam, such as Wahhabism or Salafism.
Professor Mouhannad Khorchide, who heads the Centre for Islamic Theology at Muenster University, said: "Unfortunately it is true that a large majority of Arabic-speaking mosques are more conservative than Turkish mosques.
"How can one absorb these people if they are interested in their religion?
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"When there is a shortage of offers the Salafists try to fill the gap."
Hani Salam, a Syrian now living in Germany, said that 75 Syrians live in the same hotel as his family.
Of them, only one veiled woman prays at the nearest Arabic mosque.
Professor Mouhannad Khorchide claimed a large majority of Arabic-speaking mosques were conservative
He told Reuters: "One time when I was there, a Salafist asked a young Arab man to leave because he was wearing shorts.
"At the Turkish mosque no one cares what you're wearing."
Last year around 890,000 asylum seekers, more than 70 per cent of them Muslims, entered the country. Around a third came from Syria.