“Pro Cologne”, a citizen action group is engaged in a campaign to stop the building of a mosque in the city of Cologne in Germany. Such far right groups have been active to curb Muslim presence in France, Germany, Belgium, and elsewhere. Their efforts have not been without success. According to a poll published recently in The Herald Tribune, resentment of Muslims and Jews have risen significantly in Poland, Spain, Russia, Germany and France. A similar trend is underway in Asia, especially in Japan, South Korea, and China. At the heart of the Cologne debate is a plan for a mosque with two 55-metre minarets. Although the minarets are but one-third the height of the spires of the famous nearby cathedral, opponents argue the mosque would distort the character of the city. Neo-Nazis are gearing up for action. Far-right leaders from more than one European country have been invited to speak in the groundbreaking gathering in Cologne. The police are on standby for what could turn into a bloody showdown. Several clashes have already taken place between opponents and proponents of the mosque.
MOSQUE: BONE OF CONTENTION IN GERMANY
Pro Cologne”, a citizen action group is engaged in a campaign to stop the building of a mosque in the city of Cologne in Germany.