Frankfurt am Main has decorated a street with decorations such as lanterns, stars and crescents to mark the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. The German financial metropolis wishes its Muslim residents “Happy Ramadan” in large letters – they make up 15 percent of the total population. However, this measure is not well received by every city resident.
Ramadan is the highest religious festival for Muslims and takes place this year from March 10 to April 9. Frankfurt – according to its own information, the first city in Germany – to decorate itself with beautiful Christmas lights. London may have served as a model: Piccadilly Circus in the British capital was illuminated with Ramadan lights last year.
This post shows street lights in London:
“Important sign for Muslim life”
This probably gave the Green Party politicians in Frankfurt the idea of running a similar campaign. In 2023, a motion was submitted to parliament under their leadership to hang Ramadan lights in Frankfurt for the first time. “By decorating during Ramadan, the city of Frankfurt sends an important signal for Muslim life and appreciates the people of the Muslim faith in this city,” Bild quoted from the application.
This Facebook post shows the Ramadan decorations in Frankfurt – and is criticized for their high costs, among other things:
Some city politicians were surprised by the construction
Then it became quiet in the town hall, the newspaper reported. That’s why some city politicians were downright surprised when the decorations were put up recently. “They are lights of solidarity, against reservations, against discrimination, against anti-Muslim racism and also against anti-Semitism,” Frankfurt Mayor Nargess Eskandari-Grünberg emphasized.
The lighting is located above a pedestrian area in the city and was purchased abroad. The costs are stated by “Bild” at 50,000 to 100,000 euros. For comparison, the city’s Christmas lights cost about 75,000 euros. A ‘Bild’ columnist criticizes that this is a lot of money for taxpayers and that ‘the project was pushed through without public debate’.
Lighting is also the subject of heated debate on social media. An X user asks if “similar lighting will also be hung on Easter or Yom Kippur.” The Facebook post above also criticizes the fact that people don’t even congratulate people on holidays of other religions.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
