Frankfurt is set to be the first German city to display Ramadan decorations and lights to fight "anti-Muslim racism" that will reportedly cost taxpayers between 50,000 and 100,000 euros.
Daily Mail reports that workers hired by the city have been unpacking lights shaped like stars and crescent moons since Monday to prepare for the start of the Islamic holiday on March 10.
They are being set up near the Alte Oper concert hall in the middle of Frankfurt. While the decorations were blocked last year by the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), The Green Party, which runs the city, pushed the motion through this year.
Their application stated: "By decorating during Ramadan, the city of Frankfurt is sending an important signal for Muslim life and thereby appreciating the people of the Muslim faith in this city."
The mayor of Frankfurt, Nargess Eskandari-Grunberg said: "They are lights of togetherness, against reservations, against discrimination, against anti-Muslim racism and also against anti-Semitism."
The first time lights and decorations were displayed for Ramadan in Europe was last year in London's Piccadilly Circus, spearheaded by Ramadan Lights UK and funded through donations.
About 15 percent of the Frankfurt population, or 150,000 people, are Muslim.
As of Tuesday, a giant unlit sign reading "Happy Ramadan" hangs in the street.
German journalist Anabel Shunke posted to X: "By the way, the new Ramadan lighting in Frankfurt costs the taxpayer 50,000-100,000 euros. The Christmas lights in Frankfurt cost 75,000 euros.
"Perhaps very interesting in this context: Two times in a row, in 2018 and 2019, the Christmas lights on the Frankfurt Zeil were completely canceled due to financing difficulties.
"At that time, the spokesman for the Zeil residents, Jan Dustmann, said: 'The decoration of the Zeil is done on a voluntary basis. Residents who want Christmas lights must be able to finance them themselves. Otherwise there are none.'
"This means: Homeowners and shopkeepers have to pay for the Christmas lights in Hessian cities themselves. The Ramadan lighting is financed by the state."
Daily Mail reports that workers hired by the city have been unpacking lights shaped like stars and crescent moons since Monday to prepare for the start of the Islamic holiday on March 10.
They are being set up near the Alte Oper concert hall in the middle of Frankfurt. While the decorations were blocked last year by the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), The Green Party, which runs the city, pushed the motion through this year.
Their application stated: "By decorating during Ramadan, the city of Frankfurt is sending an important signal for Muslim life and thereby appreciating the people of the Muslim faith in this city."
The mayor of Frankfurt, Nargess Eskandari-Grunberg said: "They are lights of togetherness, against reservations, against discrimination, against anti-Muslim racism and also against anti-Semitism."
The first time lights and decorations were displayed for Ramadan in Europe was last year in London's Piccadilly Circus, spearheaded by Ramadan Lights UK and funded through donations.
About 15 percent of the Frankfurt population, or 150,000 people, are Muslim.
As of Tuesday, a giant unlit sign reading "Happy Ramadan" hangs in the street.
German journalist Anabel Shunke posted to X: "By the way, the new Ramadan lighting in Frankfurt costs the taxpayer 50,000-100,000 euros. The Christmas lights in Frankfurt cost 75,000 euros.
"Perhaps very interesting in this context: Two times in a row, in 2018 and 2019, the Christmas lights on the Frankfurt Zeil were completely canceled due to financing difficulties.
"At that time, the spokesman for the Zeil residents, Jan Dustmann, said: 'The decoration of the Zeil is done on a voluntary basis. Residents who want Christmas lights must be able to finance them themselves. Otherwise there are none.'
"This means: Homeowners and shopkeepers have to pay for the Christmas lights in Hessian cities themselves. The Ramadan lighting is financed by the state."
