The Memmingen city council’s no to the construction of a minaret at the mosque of the Turkish Islamic community is being implemented by the city. After intensive discussions with the city council factions and other parties involved, Mayor Jan Rothenbacher (SPD) supports the city council’s decision, the city announced on Wednesday. The building application is now being rejected by the city administration. In the course of this process, the Turkish Islamic Community, as the building owner, has the opportunity to comment. The city council’s decision against the minaret caused harsh criticism in the SPD parliamentary group, among others.
In principle, the building department of the city of Memmingen assessed the application as eligible for approval. However, the requested height of the minaret of 24 meters was viewed critically. The development plans for adjacent areas provide for building heights of a maximum of 16 meters. “The criterion of integration into the surroundings, which is necessary for approval, can be assessed very differently on this point,” said Rothenbacher. “I respect the decision-making process of the committees.” Both the building committee and the city council plenum narrowly rejected the construction. In both cases the decision was a stalemate; In the event of a tie, an application is considered rejected in accordance with the municipal regulations.
It was initially unclear whether the Turkish Islamic Community would take steps against the decision. “We haven’t received anything yet,” said the club’s chairman, Muhammet Kul, to the German Press Agency on Wednesday. The notice of rejection has not yet arrived. Only when this is available can further steps be taken. “I need to know what’s in there.” The SPD in the city council had already reacted with incomprehension to the rejection in the building committee. The SPD also looks critically at the mosque landscape and political Islam. However, if building applications are evaluated based on the applicant’s religious background or beliefs, double standards are applied. The Turkish Islamic Community had made it clear that the minaret was a purely structural religious symbol – there was no loudspeaker system planned that could be used to call for prayer.