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December 1, 2005
Germany: Merkel Vows to Be Tough on Islamist Extremism, Fair to Muslims
Yesterday, Angela Merkel, the new German chancellor (pictured), announced her new government's strategy to the parliament in Berlin. She vowed that the government will not be intimidated by terrorist "blackmail", states Expatica. This comment brought applause from the Bundestag.
Both Pakistan's Daily Times and the Dow Jones Newswires make mention of her promise in the statement to have an "open and honest" dialogue with Islam. She also denounced forced marriages and honour killings.
"Dialogue with Islam carries great significance - we have to learn to understand each other. We will do this in an open and honest way. We will not brush aside differences," she said.
She further said that her government would tackle racism and anti-semitism.
There is a situation currently going on in Iraq, where a German citizen and Muslim convert, Susanne Osthoff, is currently being held hostage with her driver. Osthoff is an archaeologist and aid worker, and a videotape from Baghdad claims that unless Germany breaks off its relations with the Iraqi government, she and her driver will be killed.
On Wednesday, Osthoff's sister pleaded with the government to reconsider its Iraq policy.
"We will not be blackmailed," Merkel said. "We cannot fail in our fight against terrorism."
43-year old Osthoff was abducted on Friday or Saturday, apparently by terrorists linked to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. On Tuesday, US secretary of state, Condoleeza Rice met with German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier to discuss the situation regarding the kidnap. Steinmeier later said that Germany was relying upon US information on the case.
According to Kai Hischmann of the Institute into Terrorism at Essen, the kidnapping was intended as a message to the new government, to dissuade them from having links with both the Iraqi government and the US.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at December 1, 2005 8:49 AM
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