Islam versus Europe

The Bavarian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen boasts the highest peak in Germany, the Zugspitze, topped by a landmark Christian cross which has become a symbol of the town. Despite its iconic status, however, the cross was removed from tourist leaflets published this year - but only those in Arabic. As you can see below, prospective Spanish tourists still see the cross; Arabs don't.


This wasn't a Photoshop job. They just used a very selective view of the peak that kept the cross out of sight.

The Muslim tourist business is booming in Bavaria. In the last ten years their number has increased fourfold. Particularly since the burka was banned in other European countries, Munich and its environs have been a popular travel destination for rich sheikhs.

But the Garmischer feel somewhat passed over by the travellers, who according to the tourist association spend up to 1000 euros per person each day. Only 3000 Muslim overnight guests in Garmisch, 150,000 in the Austrian neighbours Zell am See - a strikingly disproportionate, complained the tourist manager.

Special provision for Muslims has already been made: prayer rooms at the station on the mountain, toilets designed to meet "Arab requirements", whatever that means. But that apparently wasn't enough.

After pressure from the Catholic church, however, the tourism board has agreed to reinstate a view of the cross in next year's Arabic pamphlets.

Sources: sueddeutsche.de merkur-online.de Via: Novopress