language in Germany different from other European countries and the small role of Islam for Turks

Submitted by myth (Germany), Oct 31, 2016 at 06:58

Ahmad, you are right to point out the significance of language. Germany is different from other European countries ( which I know). No one uses constructs like "the asisan community" or "the Turkish community" here. Certainly no one in Germany would stick the word "migrant" to a Turk. The straight forward expression in use is "Deutsch-Türken" meaning "German Turks" or simply Turks. I personally refer to them as "Our Turks". That is to say I have accepted them as many of the regional cultural groups like Saxons or Bavarians. Difference is, Turks speak proper German, Saxons don't. In my case whenever I meet Turks in other countries my first impulse is to consider them Germans. It has gone that far.

Turks in Germany by and large do not express their identity in terms of religion. If you travel through Germany the Islamic faith of Turks remains barely visible given there are millions of adherents. Islam is not essential to Turkish identity in Germany. The young generation however tends to be more openly religious than their grandfathers who were actually born in Turkey.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".