young women epperly in cafe they too want to see an open mind it islam. well i m joined now by our chief political correspondent melinda crane she is here in berlin this evening good evening to you melinda the german is long conference it began with the country s interior minister horse over saying that muslims belong to germany now he is known as being a very conservative politician did that statement surprise you. absolutely it did and it surprised many others as well this is the same man who shortly after taking office as interior minister directly contradicted the chancellor she had said islam does belong to germany and he said no it does not and he went on in the months after that to essentially instrumental ised prejudices both against immigrants and against muslims in the hope of trying to win voters away from a party on the far right the alternative for germany the party that has been on the