Turkey's Needy Needies Cause controversy in Germany

A cultural centre in Kiln installs <x0-tuals that respect other cultures”. It's about all the al-Turkish toilets that Muslims mostly use. Reactions to this idea are strong, even from the Muslim world.

Integration of foreigners in Germany is not easy. They must learn a foreign language, find jobs, get used to the German complex system. While the atmosphere towards refugees has also changed: Germans are no longer open like two years ago.

Terrorist acts and experiences, that integration is not doing well, have weakened their optimism. In this situation the “Alte Feuerwache e.V. The horse sparks a debate. Directors have decided to build subx1 public structures that respect other cultures”, especially for Muslims. It's about allla-turka toilets without seats.

This decision sparks even more debate on integration into Germany. The local newspaper “Kölner Stadtanzeeger” had not yet reported well for toilets when a major debate began online. Many readers responded with outright rejection or ridicule.

Typical in Muslim lands?

Europeans know them from France. “Such a toilet responds to what is typical in Muslim countries” says Konrad Müller from the cultural centre's board. With this we want to give these people the idea that they're here in their “home. The executives plan, not hygienic paper, for washing. On the other hand, the toilet hole doesn't point south. „To perform major needs with direction from Mecca this does not go”, says Konrad Müller.

Reactions by Kölni

The subject was immediately picked up by politics. This puts me breathless”, says Uli Breite of the Liberals branch, FDP in Kiln. “We liberals support Enlightenment and progress. This toilet is going back. Integration is based on the fact that people who come here to us adapt and not reverse. ”

Even the Green Leader for Köln, Kirsten Jahn, expresses her disapproval. Jesus Christ, what is this? It is a kind of haughtiness that the board of this cultural center claims to know how people want to handle their needs. This is ridiculous and it's not about trust. ”

Learning from other cultures?

Cultural centre leaders have defended the decision. There's nothing wrong with and nothing to do with excessive kindness, because our organization has intercultural knowledge missions. Here again, the local population can learn something from other cultures”, said from this center.

In the meantime Ahmed Awaimer, in charge of dialogue by the Muslim Central Council in Germany, expresses restraint on the project. Such cultural centers basically try to promote dialogue by people from different cultures. So it's good to reflect on the other one, he says. But the issue of tin baths is not one of the most urgent problems of integration. Hence, the debate on the project too is exaggerated. There are more important problems to solve, like training courses for hundreds of thousands of Muslims.

No election campaign theme

In the current campaign in Germany, some politicians have captured this topic to use for their electoral purposes. A rightist party politician, AfD, writes that behind the women's special urinarys, he now seeks Muslim toilets. Looks like the place doesn't have any other problems.

While Ahmad Awaimar says he hopes politicians will sideline such a topic in the campaign, because such a hot topic is not dignified for the country's democratic culture.

Reactions From the Arab World

In the Arab world, reactions differ. “Mysmilians in the states of the Persian Gulf” even use gold-cleaned tin toilets”, writes Bilal Arbouch on Facebook page. With winking, he adds that even “for this must be careful for Germany. ”

While Osama Saadallah does not understand the debate. „Why should people be angry with such toilets?” According to him, they also exist in other countries in Europe. It's no use for such baths to start “Holy War”, he writes. You can do whatever you want. It's important to settle down.

Even Ahmed Habra does not understand the meaning of such a debate. “Do not Muslims have the right to a life in democratic countries where human rights are respected?”, he writes on Facebook. / DW