Germany lights first-ever Ramadan lights in Frankfurt
FRANKFURT, Germany - Local authorities of the German city of Frankfurt have begun illuminating a crowded central street with stars and half-moons to welcome the arrival of the holy fasting Muslim month of Ramadan in a bid to send the message of co-existence and peace.
The decorations featuring a large sign reading 'Happy Ramadan' and other illuminations were placed on March 10 and will remain until April 9 at Frankfurt's pedestrianized Grosse Bockenheimer Strasse.
Muslims, who make up 15 percent of the population in Germany's fifth largest city, say they welcome the move by the authorities of Frankfurt.
"I find these Ramadan lights very amazing because they [Germans] follow another religion. They are in solidarity with us," a Muslim resident of Frankfurt said. "We, as Muslims, are very large in number."
"I find these illuminations interesting. Indeed, respect for Germany and respect for the city of Frankfurt."
The official website of the city of Frankfurt stated that “Islam is now firmly anchored in Frankfurt, just like Christianity, Judaism, and many other religions”.
Some political parties, however, are not happy with the government allocating funds only for Muslim celebrations.
"As the Christian democrats, we are not against the illuminations," Yannick Schwander, a city councilor from the Christian Democratic Union of Germany. "However, what we say is money should not be spent in this way."
"This move [made by local authorities] is done unilaterally and 100,000 euros should not be spent for followers of one faith [Muslims], "Schwander detailed.
"Other religions do not receive funds for illuminations. Therefore, we are not against the illuminations, but the way the money is spent on the decorations."
The second largest religion in Germany is said to be Islam, with around 3.0–4.7 million adherents.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar (Hijri), during which followers of the religion abstain from eating and drinking starting from dawn to dusk.
The decorations featuring a large sign reading 'Happy Ramadan' and other illuminations were placed on March 10 and will remain until April 9 at Frankfurt's pedestrianized Grosse Bockenheimer Strasse.
Muslims, who make up 15 percent of the population in Germany's fifth largest city, say they welcome the move by the authorities of Frankfurt.
"I find these Ramadan lights very amazing because they [Germans] follow another religion. They are in solidarity with us," a Muslim resident of Frankfurt said. "We, as Muslims, are very large in number."
"I find these illuminations interesting. Indeed, respect for Germany and respect for the city of Frankfurt."
The official website of the city of Frankfurt stated that “Islam is now firmly anchored in Frankfurt, just like Christianity, Judaism, and many other religions”.
Some political parties, however, are not happy with the government allocating funds only for Muslim celebrations.
"As the Christian democrats, we are not against the illuminations," Yannick Schwander, a city councilor from the Christian Democratic Union of Germany. "However, what we say is money should not be spent in this way."
"This move [made by local authorities] is done unilaterally and 100,000 euros should not be spent for followers of one faith [Muslims], "Schwander detailed.
"Other religions do not receive funds for illuminations. Therefore, we are not against the illuminations, but the way the money is spent on the decorations."
The second largest religion in Germany is said to be Islam, with around 3.0–4.7 million adherents.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar (Hijri), during which followers of the religion abstain from eating and drinking starting from dawn to dusk.