2 May 2016

German party adopts anti-Islam policy

9:11 am on 2 May 2016

A right-wing German party has adopted a ban on minarets, the call to prayer and the full-face veil, saying Islam was "not part of Germany".

(from left ) Frauke Petry, leader of the German right wing AFD party, and her deputies Beatrix von Storch and Joerg Meuthen.

(from left ) Frauke Petry, leader of the German right wing AFD party, and her deputies Beatrix von Storch and Joerg Meuthen. Photo: AFP

Delegates at the Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) party conference adopted the explicitly anti-Islam policy over the weekend.

A delegate who called for more local dialogue with Muslim groups was booed.

The start of the conference in Stuttgart on Saturday was disrupted by clashes and hundreds of left-wing protesters were detained.

Meanwhile, hackers published the addresses of more than 2000 AfD members on a left-wing website.

Formed three years ago, AfD achieved gains in three state elections in March, after campaigning against Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to accept a million migrants in 2015.

Mrs Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) and other established parties have ruled out going into coalition with AfD.

AfD's other proposals include withdrawal from the euro and the reintroduction of conscription, but there are splits within the party, including between its less hardline wing and the leadership.

- BBC