July 10, 2009
Posted: 1500 GMT

DRESDEN, Germany –Egyptian Magdi Khalil is an educated man. He lived in Japan for seven years, teaching architecture and designing environmentally-friendly houses. Now he lives in Dresden and teaches at the local university. He says he likes the town - but that the Egyptian community has suffered what he calls "a disaster."

A protester at Cairo airport awaits the body of Marwa El-Sherbini, who was killed in Germany.
A protester at Cairo airport awaits the body of Marwa El-Sherbini, who was killed in Germany.

He's referring to the killing of Marwa El-Sherbini - an Egyptian woman, mother and wife - in a German courtroom by a man who appears to have acted upon hatred for Muslims.

That man, a German man of Russian descent identified only as Alex W. by German authorities, had already been fined for calling his victim, who wore a headscarf, a "terrorist," after she asked him to let her son use a swing in a playground. She had taken him to court; he had been fined and was now going into revision when the incident happened.

By all accounts, almost everything that happened in the court room was a disaster. Khalil recounts the details of what has been reported –- and believes many questions remain unanswered

He wants to know why Alex W was not searched when he went into the court. No one seems to have noticed that he was carrying a knife. "How can something like this happen in a court where people are supposed to be safe?" Khalil asks me.

Khalil also wants to know why, when El-Sherbini's husband went to her aid (and was himself attacked and stabbed by Alex W), a policeman shot him in the leg in the mistaken belief he was the assailant. "Why did the cop think the Muslim-looking man must be the killer?" asks Magdi.

The public response after the incident has been muted. It took days for German politicians to react and publicly condemn the act. Khalil asks: "What would happen if an Egyptian man would stab a German woman to death in court?"

Khalil is asking questions – and so are many other people. there latent anti-Muslim sentiment in Germany, perhaps in many western European countries? Where were the candlelight vigils for the victims? Where was the public outrage? Why is there no debate about possible political reactions?

The German government has since condemned the attack but maintains that its response was adequate. "We cannot tolerate right-wing extremism, hatred of foreigners or Islamophobia in our country," Thomas Steg, a spokesman for Chancellor Merkel, said at a press conference Wednesday. Meanwhile outrage at the killing has continued to grow in Egypt, to where Marwa El-Sherbini’s body has now returned.

Khalil is clear: "I believe this was an isolated incident that this has nothing to do with Germany as a whole." But he says the German government needs to answer the questions being asked - not least for its reputation in the Islamic world, for its reputation among Muslims in Germany and to ensure that Marwa El-Sherbini did not die in vain.

Posted by: ,
Filed under: Egypt


Share this on:
Martin   July 10th, 2009 1625 GMT

Where is the outrage when German doctors were abducted and executed not a month ago in Yemen?

DENNIS   July 10th, 2009 1628 GMT

Murder, terrorism and brutality by anyone and anywhere is evil and wrong and should be denounnced and not tolerated by anyone or any country or religion. What disturbs and disgusts Western countries and society is the outright failure of Muslim countries/societies to publicly denounce and not tolerate this type of behavior by the extremists against Westerners or even their own people. Muslims are crying out about their rights, treatment and freedoms but their isn't even a tiny bit of public statements by their governments, leaders or the individuals in their countries. This is hyprocrisy at the highest levels. They want to be able to publicly practice their religion and religious practices in Western society but even the admission by a non Muslim that they are a Christian can mean death or imprisonment by the muslims. Until that type of treatment and mentality is no longer accepted by them should any Western society or government allow them any rights.

RISKABILITY   July 10th, 2009 1646 GMT

The EU must issue a Global Anti- Islamic Review Act , the same as (Global Anti-Semitism Review Act) because the prosecuting authority in Germany admit that the killer ‘driven by a deep hatred of Muslims’ which indicate ‘The real responsibility for this awful case lies with the increasingly anti-Islamic and racist climate in Europe , an atmosphere in which politicians and public intellectuals and celebrities have played a great part' , although it's every human duty to do this , but the Muslims communities and activists must take the lead to reach out to the whole world to make it happen what ever it take

Reiner Marz   July 10th, 2009 1702 GMT

My feelings are with the husband and I am really sad about the killing of an innocent woman. That shuldn't have happend. But I think it is absolutely unfair to blame now the Germans, Germany, the West, and talk about an anti-Muslim sentiment.
There have been many incidents in recent years where people, Germans, were killed in a court room by mad men. It is simply a fact, that Muslims in Germany and elswhere are very quick to condemn others and talk about hate crime and ask for apologies. When a German gets killed by a Muslim (like the two women in Yemen recently, or a lot of German tourists in Cairo, Egyt, some years back, or in daily life in a given German city) the Moslem community is silent. That is considered as Allah's wish. Sorry but I don't accept that. Of course I know, that my opinion is not politically correct.

S. A   July 10th, 2009 1709 GMT

Although the murder of the egyptian woman in court was tragic & unfortunate. I do not believe it was an attack because of religion, as much as it was a xenophobic attack. To call her a hijab martyr is silly & distorting the whole case, turning it into a religious spectacle for the gain of some politicised religious groups.
Furthermore, Islam & the Quran do not state or order any woman to cover her hair.

Guy   July 10th, 2009 1711 GMT

Having lived & worked in Germany for several yrs & in Sweden for 12 yrs where both countries have large Muslim populations, there is an element missing from this story. That is the disrespect, distain & general un-thankfulness Muslims have shown to their host country for taking them in as refugees & giving them all the rights & privileges of any German or Swede.

Steve S.   July 10th, 2009 1720 GMT

Who doesnt know what Muslims stand for?? Germany seems to have an idea. Perhaps they are not aware of the few Muslims who wish to live in peace and not want to make the world Islam? In the media, what type of Muslim makes news?? "Radical Muslim". who doesnt know what a radical muslim wants.. I think Germany knows what radical muslims want..

amal   July 10th, 2009 1738 GMT

May allah be with You sister,
Theses people are ignorant. Islam is here and will stay here for ever, if Germany does not act the proper way they should, so they are opening another door for violence.
Let's pray for every body may Allah forgive them

Victor Scicluna -Germany   July 10th, 2009 1752 GMT

As much as I understand the man`s feeling regarding this incident, he cannot blame the German government. I am a foreigner myself and have been living in Germany for over 18 years, I have never suffered any form of discrimination not even in the simplest of terms.

Unfortunately these things happen, just a few months ago a man walked into a German court and shot his sister in law and another man. This incident was a German against a German. A few months back a young student made a whole blod bath by killing 16 people. All of whom were fellow Germans.

In the above case it was clearly a case of hatred towards foreigners but this cannot be blamed on the German government. This is a real single incident, and its unfortunate as it puts Germany into a bad light.

To the contrary the Germans often bent over backwards to try to accomodate foreigner´s wishes.

DannyP   July 10th, 2009 1753 GMT

How ironic she is talking about being free to wear something and then stating that islam orders her to wear it. It kinda contradicts itself.

Harris   July 10th, 2009 1829 GMT

I think this is absolutely disgusting and shameful... Germany should publicly and officially apologize to the woman's family and to Egypt... A proper investigation should be done to determine these so called 'lapses' in security including how the woman's husband was shot in the leg... This is shocking!

Darwin   July 10th, 2009 1830 GMT

Where was the Muslim's communities outrage when two young Christian teenage girls from Norway were brutally attacked, raped, and almost killed by several Muslim men three years ago? Where was their outrage for the thousands who were killed during the 9-11 attacks on the US? Where is their rage now for the daily brutality and death which befalls Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan? The current "Muslim Rage" is just an excuse to further the Muslim political agenda in Europe. If you wish to honor the proud woman who was killed, then fight daily for injustices which befall all people in all corners of the Earth. Protest the killing of Muslims and Christians alike in all countries. Establish programs and groups to foster understanding between Muslims and Christians in Europe, so that both cultures can be understood and appreciated. The single greatest cultural problem in Europe today is an unwillingness of Muslims to integrate into European society while keeping their own culture, and the laziness of Europeans to learn of and appreciate Muslim culture. Shame on both sides! Place aside your differences, for the sake of this wonderful woman sacrifice.

CURTIS   July 10th, 2009 1838 GMT

This story has shocked me! i cant believe that something like this has happened. This almost makes you wonder if the german authorities were the ones behind this. I have seen many days in the courtroom as a former paralegal, and nothing like this would ever happen. There has to be an out cry for german muslims and muslims a like. I hate how these things are ignored and it is very apparent! This is sad, what will we do?

spam   July 10th, 2009 1853 GMT

Love the fact that muslims living in non-islamic countries DEMAND equality yet in their own countries non-muslims aren't afforded that same equality.

wahidi el khabesi   July 10th, 2009 1938 GMT

Its obvious that there is hatred against muslims in western countries, and westerners condone murder of muslims in their countries.

Joseph G.   July 16th, 2009 2233 GMT

Where is the Outrage? It is in the same place that contains the outrage when an American or European is killed in a Muslim Country

Leave Your Comment


 

Comments are moderated by CNN, in accordance with the CNN Comment Policy, and may not appear on this blog until they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting. Also, due to the volume of comments we receive, not all comments will be posted.


subscribe RSS Icon
About this blog

Hear from CNN reporters across the globe. "In the Field" is a unique blog that will let you share the thoughts and observations of CNN's award-winning international journalists from their far-flung bureaus or on assignment. Whether it's from conflict zone, a summit gathering, or the path least traveled, "In the Field" gives you a personal, front row seat to CNN's global newsgathering team.

Follow us on Twitter

Follow CNNInTheField on TwitterGet In The Field updates when they appear online via the Web, SMS, or instant messages.

Follow CNNInTheField

From our Partners
Categories
Powered by WordPress.com VIP