(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Addressing the Foreign Press Association in Berlin, Lammert rejected remarks by the head of the Central Council of Muslims Aiman Mazyek who voiced strong concern over a climate of fear which Muslims were facing.
'I don't sense such a climate (of fear),' said Lammert who is a close ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
He added allegations that German society was anti-Islamic were 'silly and unacceptable.'
Lammert was reacting to strong comments made by Mazyek who warned Muslims were 'scared in their own country' in the wake of last week's arson attack on Berlin's largest mosque, the fourth of its kind over the past six months.
'Not a week goes by without the violation of a mosque,' said Mayzek.
'The current terrorist hysteria is worsening the climate, reducing solidarity with Muslims and strengthening those people who plan to attack them,' he warned.
Mazyek pointed out that the animosity towards Muslims was 'the fastest growing form of racism' in Germany.
He added Islam bashing had become 'socially acceptable,' even in German intellectual circles.
The German government admitted recently Islamophobia had in fact become a serious problem in the country as a result of deepening anti-Muslim sentiments within the population.
Justice Minister Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger said there was a growing tendency among the public to view 'Muslims and their religion as a threat.'
This was the first time that the German government had openly acknowledged the existence of Islamophobia in the country.
German Muslim leaders have repeatedly urged the Merkel government to seriously
address the problem of Islamophobia.
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