23 Apr 2016 07:50 BST Edited

Christian Wulff criticized the strengthening of anti-Islamic currents in his country and stressed that Islam belongs to Germany.

http://balkans.aljazeera.net/vijesti/wulff-islam-pripada-njemackoj

Wulff: Whoever says that he does not want Islam in Germany, does not want Islam in Europe, he or she is against our Constitution [EPA]

Former President of Germany, Christian Wulff criticized the strengthening of anti-Islamic currents in his country and stressed that Islam belongs to Germany, which was contrary of the claims of the extreme right wing parties, report agencies.

"When three million of them live in our country, they and their religion of Islam belongs to Germany," said Wulff.

He vehemently criticized the draft plan of the party's right-wing populist country Alternative for Germany, which warns of the "Islamization of Europe" and calls for a ban on Muslim symbols, including the minarets on mosques.

The Christian-Democrat politician opposes such calls and points out that the German constitution guarantees religious freedom for all, including the right of Muslims to practice and preach their faith, and to build their mosque.

ISIL and divisions threaten Germany

"Whoever says he does not want Islam in Germany, does not want Islam in Europe, he or she is against our Constitution. Whoever says he does not want Muslims in Europe, he or she can advocate for the rights of Christians in other parts of the world then you should not be surprised if others say here does not want Christians and Jews, "said Wulff.

The rightist-populist AfD, which in recent months growing in popularity, adopted a position in which the fiercely anti-Islam and the question puts it among the central issues.

One of the deputy party leader Beatrix von Storch told local media during the week that Islam is a "political ideology" that is not compatible with the German Constitution.

"Muslims in Germany is a place, but not Islam. We are committed to the ban on minarets, muezzins and the complete coverage of the body," she told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.

Wulff, who was president from 2010 to 2012, was the first German leader to publicly recognize that Islam belongs to Germany as well as Christianity and Judaism.

His speech in 2010 sparked a huge debate, but later received the support of Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"Our democracy, our Europe is in danger. They endanger [armed groups] Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, as well as those in Germany are trying to create new divisions," he said at the end of this week.

Wulff points out that, contrary to what they say, and right-wing extremists, immigrants and Muslims have a significant economic and cultural contribution to German society.

"They represent our country '

"We have many migrants, and many Muslims among our intellectuals, media and cultural personalities and representing our country," he added.

Germany last year received 1.1 million refugees, mostly Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans, fleeing from war and conflict.

These figures were burdened by local authorities and provoked attitudes against refugees.

This European country has the second largest Muslim population in Western Europe after France.

Among the nearly four million Muslims in Germany, three million are of Turkish origin, and many of them came to Germany in the 1960s.

Source: Agencies

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But, the history tell us tat during the WWI Turkey was German Ally, and that during the WWII Turkey's Islam was so close to the Nazi philosophy that it's imams radio broadcasted from Berlin.

IZAKOVIC