'Muslim Merkel' German TV image causes outrage

[MikeWB]

That evil monster deserves all the shit she's been getting lately.



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/angela-merkel/11914876/Muslim-Merkel-German-TV-image-causes-outrage.html



German TV network accused of Islamophobia for producing mock-up image of "Muslim Merkel", as Pegida shows resurgence with 9,000-strong rally
ARD television broadcast a mocked-up picture of Mrs Merkel wearing a chador against a backdrop of the Reichstag surrounded by minarets
ARD television broadcast a mocked-up picture of Mrs Merkel wearing a chador Photo: ARD

By Justin Huggler, Berlin

3:57PM BST 06 Oct 2015

An image of Angela Merkel wearing a traditional Iranian Islamic headscarf has caused controversy in Germany.

ARD television was inundated with complaints after it broadcast a mocked-up picture of Mrs Merkel wearing the garment, known as a chador, against a backdrop of the Reichstag surrounded by minarets.

The image was shown during a debate on the refugee crisis on Report from Berlin, a Newsnight-style programme, and was intended to be satirical, the broadcaster claimed.

But many viewers accused the programme-makers of Islamophobia, and said they were deliberately provoking anti-Muslim sentiments.

A Pegida supporter wears a burqa during a rally in DresdenA Pegida supporter wears a burqa during a rally in Dresden  Photo: AFP

"This is not constructive journalism. Ugh!" read one comment on the programme's Facebook page. "The mood turns because of such defamation and propaganda. So yes it's true: integration cannot succeed."

The broadcaster defended the use of the image. "Of course it was also the of this artwork to provoke and polarise opinion," it said in a statement.

"We consider this satirical form of representation to be in keeping with our journalistic values. We reject any insinuation that we would operate Islamophobic propaganda."

Supporters of Legida, a local copycat of Dresden's Pegida, during a rally in LeipzigSupporters of Legida, a local copycat of Dresden's Pegida, during a rally in Leipzig  Photo: Jens Schlueter/AFP

But many viewers complained that the image was similar to posters produced by the anti-Islam and anti-immigrant movement Pegida, or Patriotic Europeans against the Islamisation of the West.

Pegida has been attempting to make a comeback in recent weeks on the back of opposition to Mrs Merkel's refugee policy. Some 9,000 people took part in a Pegida demonstration in Dresden on Monday evening.

The movement drew 25,000 people to its marches at its hieght in January, before collapsing in disarray after its founder, Lutz Bachmann was pictured posing as Hitler.

Pegida leader Lutz Bachmann posted this image on his Facebook pagePegida leader Lutz Bachmann posted this image on his Facebook page with the caption 'he is back'

Mr Bachmann was recently charged with hate speech over comments he made in Januray referring to immigrants as "animals" and a "dirt-pack".

Police are investigating the death of an asylum-seeker whose body was found after a fire in his room in an apartment block in the town of Saalfeld.

Refugee shelters across Germany have been set alight in a series of arson attacks in recent weeks, but police said they did not suspect arson in this case.

It is suspected the refugee, an Eritrean man who has not been named, may have committed suicide, according to unconfirmed reports.