Book ignites immigration debate in Germany

BERLIN, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- As controversy swirls around a book about immigration in Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel says the country must engage in serious debate on the issue.

The book on immigration and integration by German central banker Thilo Sarrazin, whose title roughly translates as "Germany does away with itself," has drawn universal condemnation from political leaders in Germany, but sales have gone through the roof and many people agree with some of his assertions, Ines Michalowski, a senior researcher at Berlin's Social Science Research Center, said.

Merkel, while criticizing Sarrazin and his book, admitted that German efforts to promote integration are not perfect, Deutsche Welle reported.

Sarrazin's book claims immigrants who do not integrate, particularly Muslims, are undermining German identity.

In comments during a book tour, Sarrazin also said he believed "all Jews share a certain gene," comments that led to a call for his removal from the Bundesbank.

"I cannot accept [Thilo Sarrazin's] accusations," Merkel told the major Turkish daily paper Hurriyet. "Entire segments of our population feel insulted by them."

Noting that about 16 million people in Germany -- one-fifth of the population -- have a migrant background, Merkel called integration efforts "one of the most important issues of our time."

She praised several successful efforts to promote integration in the workplace, the school system and everyday life.

"But to be honest, we can also see a number of issues which show that we still have a long road ahead of us, especially when it comes to education and social integration," she said.