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A women's rights activist who established a "liberal" mosque where burkas are banned has been placed under 24-hour police protection after receiving a deluge of death threats.

Seyran Ates, 54, set up Ibn Rushd Goethe Mosque along with six colleagues in Berlin last month to take a stand against fundamentalism and cater for a "modern" interpretation of Islam.

Worshippers of different branches of the religion, as well as homosexuals and atheists, are welcome at the mosque, which counters convention by allowing men and women to pray together.

The mosque has both male and female imams and does not allow full face veils for "security reasons". Founders also believe the garments are "nothing to do with religion, but rather are a political statement".

Ms Ates said she had received thousands of abusive messages each day after the mosque opened in mid-June, with some branding her "the devil incarnate" and telling her she should burn in Hell. Turkish and Egyptian authorities have condemned the mosque.

The lawyer, of Turkish descent, told The Times: "Since setting up the mosque I have received so many death threats through social media that the police decided they have to protect me around the clock.

"The hostile reactions proved how necessary the project was."

Police have also been guarding the building during Friday prayers, which have so far been attended by only a few dozen people.

But its founders said they had also received many supportive emails and planned to open a similar mosque in Freiburg.