# In Germany, Xenophobia Diverted By Open Doors March 23, 2010 Author: Nicholas Kulish Source: The New York Times [http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/world/europe/24germany.html?emc=tnt&tntemail0=y](http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/world/europe/24germany.html?emc=tnt&tntemail0=y) Everything seemed to be in place for a protracted xenophobic row and attendant media frenzy in this depressed industrial town near the French border. A Muslim congregation applied in November to build a minaret and three golden cupolas on the roof of the old movie theater it had converted into a mosque. The far-right party here in the state of Saarland, emboldened by last year’s ban on minarets in Switzerland, seized on the issue, calling the proposed 28-foot minaret “the bayonet of Islam.” But after a quick turn in the media spotlight, the pending furor fizzled out. A neighborhood group recently issued a statement with mosque leaders calling for “peaceful and constructive” cooperation, while the mosque’s leadership agreed to temporarily shelve the plan for the minaret. See also:- [ Business/Workplace ](/news-stories/businessworkplace) - [ Civil Liberties/Civil Rights ](/news-stories/civil-libertiescivil-rights) - [ Islamophobia ](/news-stories/islamophobia) - [ Geert Wilders ](/news-stories/geert-wilders) - [ Headscarf Controversies ](/news-stories/headscarf-controversies) - [ Immigration ](/news-stories/immigration) - [ Immigration in Europe ](/news-stories/immigration-europe) - [ Minaret Referendum in Switzerland ](/news-stories/minaret-referendum-switzerland) - [ Niquab or Burqa Controversies ](/news-stories/niquab-or-burqa-controversies) - [ Statistics ](/news-stories/statistics) - [ Center Openings/Milestones ](/news-stories/center-openingsmilestones) - [ Islam in Europe ](/news-stories/islam-europe) - [ Religious Freedom ](/news-stories/religious-freedom) - [ Islam ](/religions/islam) - [ Civic ](/tags/civic) - [ International ](/tags/international) - [ Women ](/tags/women) Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)