October 14, 2017
German official’s proposal for Muslim holidays rejected
BERLIN, Germany (AP) — A senior member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party has been rebuked by his own political allies for suggesting that Germany might introduce public holidays to celebrate the Islamic religion.
Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told a party rally in northern Germany this week that he was willing to discuss Islamic holidays in areas with large Muslim populations.
There are an estimated 4.7 million Muslims in Germany, mostly immigrants from Turkey.
Alexander Dobrindt, who also belongs to Merkel’s conservative Union bloc, told the Daily Bild yesterday that he was against Islamic holidays: “Our Christian heritage isn’t up for negotiation.”
