GETTY/TWITTER Residents of Rüdesheim have complained about the stall

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The Christmas market in the town of Rüdesheim on the Rhine, Germany, is a popular tourist destination famed for its festive atmosphere, which traditionally features stalls selling mulled wine, frankfurters and gifts. But members of the Ahmadiyya Islamic community set up an information booth this year which has offended locals who complain that the stand is not in-fitting with the spirit of Christmas.

This does not belong at a Christmas market! Rüdesheim resident

Local residents confronted the Muslims operating the stall at Rüdesheim town hall and asked them to vacate the market. One outraged resident said: "This does not belong at a Christmas market!" Although some members of the Rüdesheim community have complained to police, law enforcement does not have the power to force the operators of the stand to close the booth.

GETTY Residents have complained that the Muslim stall is out of place at the market

The stand’s operators attended the the town hall meeting, where they were asked to vacate because of the “danger potential due to the violent public reactions”. Local people argued that a stand “which is obviously a question of the Koran design” does not belong at a Christmas market. But Rüdesheim mayor Volker Mosler - from Angela Merkel’s CDU party - hit out at complainants.

GETTY The town mayor condemned residents for their intolerance

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He said: “I am absolutely amazed there is so much intolerance.” Representatives of the Ahmadiyya community argued they want to raise awareness of their religion as a way of promoting inclusion and harmony during the Christmas season. The Muslim stall is not reported to be anti-Christian or to pose any danger to the Christmas market. Ahmadiyya is a sect of Islam that supports religious tolerance and believes in Jesus and the Second Coming.