In Germany, Syrians find mosques too conservative

Syrians in Germany say many of the country's Arab mosques are more conservative than those at home, according to a report by Reuters news agency.

Over two months, a dozen Syrians in six places of worship in three cities reportedly said that they were uncomfortable with very conservative messages in Arabic-speaking mosques. People have also reportedly criticised the way the newcomers dress and practise their religion, they said.

In Germany this year, Alternative for Germany, a populist party that says Islam is incompatible with the German constitution, has gained ground after several attacks by militant Muslims took place. Syrians and others are reportedly saying the mosque problem is adding to mistrust.

In Germany, other different faiths are traditionally supported by the state. But most of the country's four million Muslims originally came from Turkey and attend Turkish-speaking mosques which are partly funded by Ankara.

Last year around 890,000 asylum-seekers, more than 70% of them Muslims, entered the country. Around a third came from Syria.

Yet, Arabic-speaking mosques are often short of funds, or else supported by Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, with some backing ultra-conservative or highly literal interpretations of Islam, such as Wahhabism or Salafism.