'Islam Makes Little Contribution to Identity of Europe': Merkel Party Ally

http://bit.ly/2u4oNLA | A senior politician in German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Union has said that Islam "makes little contribution" to the foundation of Europe and that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb'an "holds the key" to solving the EU's migrant problems.

"Islam belongs just as little to Europe as it belongs to Germany," Christian Social Union (CSU) of Bavaria Vice-Chairman Manfred Weber told German newspaper Die Welt.

"Of course, today Muslims are part of Europe. On the positive side, there is a debate about the leading culture in Germany. Europe needs this debate too. We must defend our European lifestyle globally," he added.

The vice-president of the ally party of the Chancellor's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) made the comments after Merkel's staunch insistence that Islam "belongs to Germany".

Merkel's pronounce came directly after CSU leader Horst Seehofer told media that "Islam does not belong to Germany. Germany has been shaped by Christianity" on Friday.

Mr. Weber made the point that religious freedom is a "cornerstone" of German society, but that "Islam makes little contribution to the foundations and identity of this continent".

When asked by Die Welt what has contributed to the foundations and identity of the continent, Weber identified Christianity amongst other classical liberal values.

"These include fundamental Christian values and education, equal rights for men and women, freedom of the media, democracy and the rule of law, and the social and ecological market economy.

"These basic principles are applied throughout Europe. In the majority of Muslim states, they are not part of the reality of life," the Bavarian party member observed.