A group of Muslims, Jews and Christians joined on Thursday to lay the foundation stone for a centre that will house places of worship for each religion in a symbol of interfaith dialogue in the German capital.
\nDays after protests in Berlin over the attacks by Israel in Gaza, and at a time when politicians are warning of rising anti-Semitism in Germany, the \u201cHouse of One\u201d offers a beacon of hope for dialogue, said its founders.
\n\u201cIt is important that dramatic world conflicts can be discussed in the German capital and that people have a stage to highlight problems in their countries and express their opinions,\u201d said Berlin Mayor Michael Mueller at the ceremony.
\n\u201cBut hatred and violence, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, racism and incitement have no place in our society,\u201d he added.
\nThe building, with a tall square tower, will contain separate rooms for religious services and a common area for meeting.
\nThe heads of Germany\u2019s Central Council of Jews and Central Council of Muslims have welcomed the project and the religious exchange it aims to make possible.
\nConstruction work, which started after 10 years of planning, will take four years and cost 47.3 million euros ($57.67m). The German government is contributing 20m euros ($24.39m), the city of Berlin 10m euros ($12.19m) and the rest will come from other contributors, including donations from abroad.
\nThe centre will be built on the site of a 13th century church which was destroyed by the Communist East German government in the 1960s.
\n\u201cThe House of One project sends an important signal at this time,\u201d Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, head of the Protestant church in Germany, told RND media.
\n\u201cAnti-Semitism and Islamophobia are increasing. But they take people in the wrong direction, they fuel hatred and potentially lead to violence,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A group of Muslims, Jews and Christians joined on Thursday to lay the foundation stone for a centre that will house places of worship for each religion in a symbol of interfaith dialogue in the German capital. Days after protests in Berlin over the attacks by Israel in Gaza, and at a time when politicians […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-194383","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n