CAIRO: German Ambassador to Egypt Bernd Erbel paid respects to Marwa Al-Sherbini’s family in Alexandria Tuesday, he told Daily News Egypt.
“I went to Alexandria myself and conveyed the German government’s condolences, as well as my own personal condolences, to the family of the deceased, he said, “I sincerely hope that they can continue their life despite this horrible catastrophe.
Al-Sherbini was stabbed to death last week in a German court where she was going to present evidence against her assailant in an appeal case. The court had previously awarded her compensation after the assailant, who was also her neighbor, called her a “terrorist for wearing the Muslim headscarf.
Protestors gathered outside of the German embassy in Zamalek Tuesday, outraged at the brutal murder of the 32-year-old Egyptian mother, who was also pregnant.
“Demonstration is a form of democratic expression, and we fully accept it, Erbel said. Still, the German ambassador believes that rational discussion of the incident would help people see that the incident is “in no way representative of broad German sentiment towards Islam.
Egyptians’ outrage is further fueled by the little attention the murder has received by international media, as well as the passive responses of both the German and Egyptian governments.
Erbel expects the tension to soon wane. “I hope that on the long run this incident will not affect, in any way, the German-Egyptian relations which extend through not only decades, but centuries of cooperation.
The ambassador stressed that the murder was an isolated event. “We have to put things in perspective, Bernard said, “This incident does not represent a trend or current in Germany.
However, he said he empathized with Al-Sherbini’s family as well as protestors. “I can understand the bitter emotions that many Egyptians currently hold, he said. “They were struck by a catastrophe that honestly could not be bigger. A husband lost his wife, a child lost his mother, and parents lost their daughter.
Al-Sherbini’s family also blamed the lax security that allowed the victim’s attacker to smuggle a knife inside the Dresden courtroom.
“The murder took place in a German courtroom, in front of German police. Tarek Al-Sherbini, the victim’s brother, said on public television.
Erbel attributes the courtroom’s weak security to the fact that “it was an offense case. Nobody could have expected such a violent outcome.
“Courts in Germany are open to the public, there are usually no security checks. If there was so much as a hint that there would be violence involved, the necessary measures would have been taken, he said.
Egypt’s Pharmacists’ Syndicate, to which Al-Sherbini belonged, has threatened to boycott German pharmaceuticals.
“The syndicate is frustrated and angry. But I do not think a boycott of our pharmaceuticals will be durable, Erbel said.
While Erbel acknowledged the tension that looms over the different migrant groups in Germany, he said that violence is usually never the answer. “There are 4 million Muslims living in Germany, and 99.9 percent of them are living in peace.
The German ambassador went on to condemn the actions of Alex W., Al-Sherbini’s murderer. “This individual acted in a way that puts him out of the frame of human behavior, Erbel said.
Erbel guarantees that “the unfortunate murder of this cultured lady is merely a product of individual deviance. “Violence is not at all typical of German behavior towards Muslims.
