"The (Christian) churches would like to ban Islam to the lower leagues," Aiman Mazyek, general secretary of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, told the Sunday edition of Berlin's Tagesspiegel.

Mazyek also pointed out that Germany's Basic Law ascribes equality to all religions, saying that there were no legal grounds for granting Christianity special legal status.

Neutrality or indifference?

The Council's criticism came in response to comments made last week by Cardinal Karl Lehmann, head of the German conference of bishops, who had warned against interpreting the state's religious neutrality as "uncritical tolerance."

Lehmann also expressed concern about all faiths being treated equally, regardless of their historical significance in Europe.

"Cardinal Lehmann is mistaken if he thinks that the fact that Europe and Germany were undeniably shaped by Christianity justifies the legal discrimination of other religions," said Volker Beck, head of Germany's Green Party.

However, Germany's numerous Muslim organizations have to fulfill the country's legal requirements for becoming a religious group if they are to enjoy the same rights, added Beck.

Germany's 3.2 million Muslims are not represented by a single umbrella organization, but by many smaller ones.

Cultural roots

Ronald Pofalla, general secretary of the conservative Christian Democratic Union, agreed with Lehmann that Islam should not be granted the same legal standing as Christianity.

"Unlike Christianity, Islam is not in Europe's cultural center and is not reflected in everyday life in the same way," Pofalla said in a statement.

"Only those who are conscious of their cultural and social roots can freely and openly stand up for the rights of people of different faiths," he added.