Frankfurt decorations on the eve of Ramadan

2024-03-07 10:05:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

For the first time, the city of Frankfurt will decorate a part of the public space with lighting on the occasion of the month of fasting - Ramadan. From Sunday (March 10), the large Bockenheimer street in the city center, also known as "Freßgass", will be lit up with decorations in the form of crescent moons, stars and lanterns, with the words "Happy Ramadan".

The model for this movement by the city authorities was London, which last year on the occasion of Ramadan began the practice of decorating and lighting the public space near Piccadilly Circus. According to information from the "Bild" newspaper, Frankfurt will be the first German city to do so.

The decision was made last year

Last year, the Frankfurt city parliament decided to install the lighting. The request was submitted by the factions of the city government, the Greens, SPD, FDP and Volt. The explanation states that between 100,000 and 150,000 Muslims live in Frankfurt, which is almost 15 percent of the total population. This year's Ramadan lasts until April 9.

City Council President Hilime Arslaner (Greens) explained that during Ramadan, people remember and reflect on important things in life. "These are the basic pillars of human coexistence, taught by all religions," Arslaner said. "I am happy that these signs of the peace of Ramadan are visible and have come to life in our Frankfurt.

Mayor: "Sign of peaceful coexistence"

The lighting is "a sign of the peaceful coexistence of all people in Frankfurt," said mayor Nargess Eskandari-Grünberg (Greens). He is also responsible for diversity, anti-discrimination and social harmony. "These are the lights of coexistence, against prejudice, against discrimination, against anti-Muslim racism, but also against anti-Semitism.

In times of crisis and war, decorating is "a sign of hope for all people and strengthens cohesion in our diverse urban society," Eskandari-Grünberg said. The cost of purchasing the decorations, as the spokesman of the mayor of Frankfurt told the news agency dpa, reached 75 thousand euros.

The positive reactions of Muslims

Muslims in Frankfurt reacted positively to the planned decoration of the city. "I think it's a good initiative and it can serve as an example," Mohamed Seddadi, president and director of the Islamic Community in Frankfurt, said Tuesday. Public lighting is important to Muslims and fits the "multicultural city".

The lighting follows customs in Arab countries and Turkey, where streets are decorated with lanterns and other symbols during Ramadan, Seddadi said. The public decorations in Frankfurt symbolize: "We all belong to a society".

The spokesman for the German Ahmadiyya community, Naweed Ahmad, also praised the city authorities: "I am looking forward to this sign of recognition for Muslims," ??he told epd. Bockenheimer Street is also decorated and illuminated during Christmas and the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Therefore, this movement on the occasion of Ramadan, as he said, is a sign of the same respect for religions.

Reactions in networks

Various comments have appeared on social networks regarding the installation of Ramadan lighting in Frankfurt, RTL reports. They differ from the contestation of this decision to the protection of civilizational values.

"It should be stopped", "Happy Doom" or "terrible", are just some of the many comments on the networks.

Netizen Eric writes: "All our old habits are being removed, while theirs are spreading." In one of the reactions to this comment, it is said: "That Christmas has already been removed - I have not heard of this! Christmas trees, markets, advent... - oh, let's not forget mulled wine - I have seen all this in last December. And another question for you: When you say "their", you probably mean me who came from Orthodox Russia in 1992 or not? Or do you mean my dear friend Günes, who grew up in Berlin? It's interesting that the very announcement that something is going to be done causes so much panic. Now the West is bound to fail, isn't it? And for all those looking for something similar to be done in Turkey, I recommend that they visit Istanbul during Christmas. There you can see a lot of lanterns, but also Christmas trees and even a Christmas market. Have a nice trip. Don't worry, because neither Easter nor Christmas will be cancelled."/ DW