Muslim youth in the German capital Berlin and other cities took part in street clean-up campaigns following New Year’s Eve celebrations, after comments by Chancellor Friedrich Merz on what he called the “public image of cities” sparked controversy.

According to the German News Agency (dpa), Sharjeel Khalid, imam of the Khadija Mosque in Berlin’s Pankow district, said the post-New Year clean-up initiative has existed for around 30 years, but was more clearly understood this time as a political message.

Khalid, who helped organize the campaign, said Muslims should distance themselves from debates that fuel controversy about their community, adding that many Muslim youths contribute constructively to society and represent “a resource that supports democracy.”