"We Need New Answers"

How can values like "freedom" and "equality" be better transported to Muslim immigrants?

By making clear that they are not primarily Christian values, but rather universal ones that can be embraced by everyone irrespective of their religion. Every person who lives in our country must be willing to swear allegiance to our constitution. It is the constitution that guarantees religious freedom and the vast majority of Muslims is aware of that.

What can be done to improve relations between Germans and Muslims, particularly with fear on the German side?

A scene in the Berlin neighborhood of Kreuzberg

I understand the fear, but we have to be careful that we don't generalize and make the mistake of doing exactly what the fundamentalists want: confrontation instead of solidarity and harmony among people of different religions in our country. We shouldn't do the fundamentalists and terrorists a favor by isolating Muslims and placing them under general suspicion.

The strategy to counter it has to be two-pronged: We have to ensure that the security apparatus is a position to do everything it can to protect the population -- this is also in the interest of moderate Muslims -- and at the same time we have to make sure that the coexistence of different religions works better and we have more success with integration. It should be possible to say that I'm a German national and of Muslim faith. In other words, we must make it possible for Islam to be at home and part of a palette of religions in Germany.

What we need are new answers and a more discerning strategy based on preventive security measures on the one hand and integration and dialogue on the other.

How far away are we from that ideal situation?

There will always be people who withdraw into their so-called parallel worlds. But as long as it concerns small groups, one can deal with it. Our problem isn't that districts like Kreuzberg in Berlin are home to many immigrants -- that's normal in a western city in a globalized world.

The problem is that unemployment rates and the number of people on welfare are often higher in neighborhoods with a high immigrant population. And parents -- Germans as well as successful people from immigrant backgrounds who belong to the middle class -- send them to schools in other districts. That's when it becomes problematic. We have to take care to prevent such segregated neighborhoods from turning into social flashpoints.

There is a tendency in Germany to pretend that integration has failed. That only disheartens people who have been successful in their efforts at intercultural dialogue and integration. Again, that's akin to playing into the hands of fundamentalists by giving in to panic and saying that everything's hopeless. There are several successful examples Germans and non-Germans living together in harmony. There's also a lot of potential for innovation, change and new ideas among immigrants.

What we have to do is act where there are problems -- in schools, in providing access to education, fighting unemployment, encouraging those aspiring to the middle class and also in the development of a common consciousness as a German irrespective of ethnic origin.