In Germany, Syrians find mosques too conservative | Reuters

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  • In Germany, Syrians find mosques too conservative
    http://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-migrants-germany-mosques-insig-idUSKCN12S0HE

    Hani Salam escaped civil war in Syria and survived the journey from Egypt to Europe. But when he saw men with bushy long beards at a mosque near his current home in Cologne last November, he was worried.

    The men’s appearance reminded him of Jaish al-Islam, the Islamist rebels who took over his hometown near Damascus, said Salam, 36, who wears a mustache but no beard. One of them told Salam that “good Muslims grow beards, not moustaches,” he recalled – a centuries-old idea that he dismisses.

    “Everything about this mosque made me feel uneasy,” he said.

    Syrians in Germany say many of the country’s Arab mosques are more conservative than those at home.

    Over two months, a dozen Syrians in six places of worship in three cities told Reuters they were uncomfortable with very conservative messages in Arabic-speaking mosques. People have criticized the way the newcomers dress and practice their religion, they said. Some insisted the Koran be interpreted word-for-word.

    […]

    The intelligence agency has advised local authorities against housing asylum-seekers near Salafist or Wahhabi mosques.

    “We know of at least 90 Islamist mosques where activities aimed at refugees are taking place. These mosques are largely Arab-dominated and influenced by Salafism,” said Hans-Georg Maassen, head of the agency.

    At the al-Nur mosque in Berlin, which is run by Wahhabis, Syrian Abed al-Hafian said he was alarmed by a strict interpretation of the Koran and Hadith, a collection of sayings of the prophet. He recalled a sentence from Hadith that the preacher quoted on his first Friday: ’Every novelty (in religion) is innovation, and every innovation is misguidance, and every misguidance leads to the hellfire.’

    “I had never heard that sentence in Syria,” said the 42-year-old father of three, who arrived in 2014. “The message is clear and is directed at us Muslims: ’Don’t you dare interpret your religion. Take the Koran word for word.’ It’s a problem.”