
Germany: Muslim preacher brings his "message out of the mosque" and onto Berlin's streets
Germany: Muslim preacher brings his "message out of the mosque" and onto Berlin's streets
Dozens attended a speech by Pierre Vogel, a German convert to Islam who is now a preacher, in Berlin's Neukoelln borough on Saturday. Men prayed in the street in the south-eastern neighbourhood, which is well-known for housing a large Turkish population.
Focussing his sermon on Islam's reputation in wider society, Vogel explained why he organised the event: "We're doing it because we believe that we must bring the message out of the mosque - or from the backyard of the mosque. So that we can give people who are non-Muslims the chance to experience radical hate preachers live. So, therefore, once more, a warm welcome to today's hate sermon."
Vogel went on to say that people's experiences with a false representation of Islam drives misunderstanding: "This is what someone sees as an outsider: the son, he can have a girlfriend for now - he needs a guinea pig before marriage. And then at the wedding, the holy virgin is flown in from behind the seven mountains by the seven dwarves. And of course, this image, and believe me many people have it. and many have experienced this. And now try to tell a father whose German daughter had a boyfriend who had used her for several years, that Islam is a great religion. If people then act as if that had anything to do with Islam. So how do you answer these things? Simply say: that has nothing to do with Islam. You can't measure a car by the driver," said Vogel.
Vogel is a former professional boxer, and also goes by the Arabic name Abu Hamza.

Germany: Muslim preacher brings his "message out of the mosque" and onto Berlin's streets
Dozens attended a speech by Pierre Vogel, a German convert to Islam who is now a preacher, in Berlin's Neukoelln borough on Saturday. Men prayed in the street in the south-eastern neighbourhood, which is well-known for housing a large Turkish population.
Focussing his sermon on Islam's reputation in wider society, Vogel explained why he organised the event: "We're doing it because we believe that we must bring the message out of the mosque - or from the backyard of the mosque. So that we can give people who are non-Muslims the chance to experience radical hate preachers live. So, therefore, once more, a warm welcome to today's hate sermon."
Vogel went on to say that people's experiences with a false representation of Islam drives misunderstanding: "This is what someone sees as an outsider: the son, he can have a girlfriend for now - he needs a guinea pig before marriage. And then at the wedding, the holy virgin is flown in from behind the seven mountains by the seven dwarves. And of course, this image, and believe me many people have it. and many have experienced this. And now try to tell a father whose German daughter had a boyfriend who had used her for several years, that Islam is a great religion. If people then act as if that had anything to do with Islam. So how do you answer these things? Simply say: that has nothing to do with Islam. You can't measure a car by the driver," said Vogel.
Vogel is a former professional boxer, and also goes by the Arabic name Abu Hamza.