Beermats used for facts about Islam deemed ‘inappropriate’

A SCHEME to promote better understanding of Islam in Germany has run into trouble after Muslim groups objected to the use of beermats to provide information.

Under the scheme, beermats are provided to pubs and restaurants with questions about Islam. On the reverse is a URL with the answers.

Typical questions include: “Mohammed, what was he like?” and “What is it with Muslims and pork?”

The scheme has run in a number of German cities since it was launched in 2016, and the beermats have been translated into three dialects, complete with local slang.

But a bid to introduce it in the small central German town of Maintal has run into opposition from local Muslims, who say beermats are an inappropriate way to educate people about a religion that forbids alcohol.

“They could have used postcards, or adverts on the side of a bus. Why did it have to be the pub?” Salih Tasdirek, the head of the local foreigners’ advisory council, said to Spiegel magazine.

The local council has defended the scheme. “We wanted to bring big social issues into conversation,” said Verena Strub, council integration officer.

“I can understand if someone associates beermats with alcohol, but not that anyone would associate Islam with alcohol just because the questions are on beermats.”

Orient Network, a small German NGO that promotes interfaith understanding, said: “It is not our intention to associate alcohol with Islam.”