Public debates all over the country discuss whether immigrants may look for a place in Germany where they are safe against persecution, civil war or hunger or j ust for work. The right of asylum formerly being more liberal has been changed so that now it is much more difficult for fugitives to stay in Germany for a longer time. In German law of nationality the crucial point is not the place of birth but the parents' nationality. In industrial areas this amount is much higher. Fugitives being sent to municipalities according to a certain distribution key also live in small towns and villages.
Small municipalities have big problems in offering adequate cultural services to fugitives.
Until the reunion in 1990 Germany was a federation of 11 states, now it has 16 states. These countries have state legislature in cultural affairs, that means, each state has its own school system and education policy. The German schools are monocultural and only German culture is taught. The pupils' home cultures are not a part of the curriculum. However, in 1994 one state began to establish Islamic lessons fo r Muslim children.