Public Friday Prayer in Munich Cancelled in Fear of Neo-nazi Disturbance

freitagsgebet 20170519 3 - Public Friday Prayer in Munich Cancelled in Fear of Neo-nazi Disturbance

On Friday May 19th some members of the Muslim community wanted to hold their Friday prayer on Marienplatz in Munich, to draw attention to the fact that more and more mosques have been closed during the past years in the Munich downtown area. In fact in the area around the city center there is no place left for muslims to gather and hold their worship. After neo-nazis announced on Facebook to disturb the event, the public prayer was cancelled. Police guided people to a close-by jesuit church. The prayer was then held there. Neonazis and regular PEGIDA attendants showed up and mocked people from the other side of the street. As a local activist asked police why those people are allowed here the policeman answered him that they were only having a walk and not disturbing. So after all neo-nazis managed to force people of other belief to not be able to hold their demonstration and display their faith. At the Jesuit church the local priest pushed out press even though the Muslim community said that pictures before the prayer were completely allowed and wished.

print