German interior minister declares 'Islam does not belong' in the country

Angela Merkel’s new government got off to a rocky start on Friday as the chancellor and her interior minister clashed publicly over the role of Islam in Germany society. Horst Seehofer, who became interior minister this week under a coalition deal, used his first interview since taking office to declare “Islam does not belong in Germany”. Mrs Merkel lost no time in slapping down the minister, telling a press conference: “Muslims are also part of Germany, and so their