The Other View: Tolerant society must set boundaries against Islam's power assertion

A German newspaper article argues that a tolerant society must set boundaries against the perceived power assertion of Islam. The piece cites incidents like a bus driver stopping to pray and a gay teacher being bullied by Muslim students as examples of this tension. It contends that the right to religious freedom is limited by the rights of others and cannot be absolute.

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The tolerant society must draw boundaries – it must contradict the power assertion of Islam.

The article, an excerpt from the "Der andere Blick am Morgen" newsletter by NZZ Deutschland editor Sebastian Lange, highlights a recent incident where a bus driver in Bavaria stopped his route to pray. Passengers were reportedly unsettled as the bus remained stationary for several minutes. The public transport company stated that while they respect the employee's religion, his duties must be performed exclusively during his working hours.

This incident, though seemingly minor, has resonated widely, suggesting it touches upon a broader societal nerve. The article posits that an increasingly assertive religious dominance clashes with a society that is tolerant but also uncertain. It uses the bus driver case as an example of how religious freedom is not absolute and must be balanced against the rights of others.

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The demonstrative assertion of power by a religion is not compatible with a free society.

The author points to more serious instances, such as a gay teacher in Berlin being subjected to years of bullying by Muslim students who boycotted his classes and declared Islam the

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The right to freedom of religion is limited by the rights of others. It can never be made absolute.