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The project to build the three places of worship has also become a symbol of inter-religious dialogue in the German capital. The founders named the building as the “House of One”.
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Days after protests in Berlin over the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza, and at a time when politicians warned of growing anti-Semitism in Germany, the “House of One” offered a voice of hope for dialogue.
“It is important that dramatic world conflicts can be discussed in the German capital and that people have a platform to highlight the problems in their country and express their opinions,” Berlin Mayor Michael Mueller said at the foundation stone ceremony. Reuters, Friday (28/5/2021).
“But hate and violence, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, racism and incitement have no place in our society,” he said.
The building with a tall square tower will contain a separate room for worship and a common area for gatherings.
The heads of the Central Council of Jews and the Central Council of Muslims of Germany welcomed the project and the inter-religious dialogue it seeks to bring about.
The construction work, which began after 10 years of planning, will take four years and cost 47.3 million euros (USD57.67 million).
The German government contributed 20 million euros, the city of Berlin 10 million euros and the rest will come from other contributors, including donations from abroad.
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The center will be built on the site of a 13th-century church that was destroyed by the East German Communist government in the 1960s.
“The House of One project sends an important signal at this time,” Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, head of the Protestant church in Germany, told RND.
“Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia are on the rise. But they lead people in the wrong direction, they incite hatred and potentially lead to violence,” he said.
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