January 12, 2007	Friday	Zilhaj 21, 1427

BERLIN, Jan 11: Some parts of the Islamic world have still not reached the Age of Enlightenment, German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said on Thursday, advocating increased dialogue with clerics who abide by universal human rights.

Schaeuble also voiced his opposition to the Burqa, the face-covering full-body garment worn by women in some Muslim communities.

His comments, to journalists, came days after Germany assumed the rotating EU presidency and as he prepared to host an informal meeting of EU justice and interior ministers in Dresden next week.

“There are still parts of the Muslim world where historical enlightenment still needs to be implemented,” he said.

“We all know what terrible centuries there were in Europe before enlightenment,” he added.

He advocated “training imams”. “We want the imams to contribute to integration” in Europe, he added.—AFP