DPA - Iranian international Vahid Hashemian
says being a Muslim does not cause him any problems at German Bundesliga
club Bayern Munich - but he draws the line at advertising for beer.
The 28-year-old striker told the weekly newspaper Die Zeit Thursday his
beliefs were his "private affair" and not something he talked about even
with other Moslem players in the Bundesliga.
Hashemian said no one at Bayern was confronted with his religious beliefs as
he did not pray in the changing room. Other players also respected the fact
that he had his own room in which he could pray on away trips.
But Hashemian added: "I won't do any adverts
for beer, after all I don't drink any."
Hashemian said he was not a political person, but the murder of Dutch
filmmaker Theo van Gogh and arson attacks on mosques in the Netherlands were
a cause for worry.
"The murder is an attack on humanity. I also don't understand why people
destroy mosques - terrible," he said.
The former Bochum player said he also believed Iranian women should be
allowed to attend men's matches in his native country, but that Iran "has to
be given a little bit of time".
