German ministers respond to Horst Seehofer's Islam comments

Chancellor Merkel led the response to the new interior minister's remarks, saying the 4 million Muslims living in Germany and their religion belong in the country. SPD ministers called for practical integration measures.

New Interior Minister Horst Seehofer had told Bild newspaper "Islam doesn't belong to Germany," but added that "the Muslims who live with us are, of course, part of Germany."

Seehofer, a former head of Bavaria's Christian Social Union (CSU), has always held a harder line on immigration than his coalition partners in Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The CSU also faces state elections in October, in which the Alternative for Germany (AfD), an anti-immigrant party, will present a challenge.

Asked about Seehofer's remarks, Merkel said on Friday that while Germany was shaped by its Judeo-Christian heritage, "there are 4 million Muslims living in Germany."

"They can live their religion here, too," the chancellor said. "These Muslims belong to Germany and in the same way their religion belongs to Germany, that is to say Islam." She added that the form of Islam practiced must conform to the country's constitution.

Read more: Net migration to Germany sank by half in 2016: statistics office

SPD ministers look to practicalities
Three Social Democratic Party (SPD) ministers reacted to Seehofer's comments, calling for practical solutions rather than divisive debate. - Read More

German ministers respond to Horst Seehofer′s Islam comments ...

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