BERLIN — Germany's central bank distanced itself from a board member who stereotyped Muslims and Jews, saying his remarks were harmful and violated the Bundesbank's code of conduct.The comments by Thilo Sarrazin surrounding the launch of his new book Monday on immigration issues sparked outrage from German lawmakers and community leaders, and many agreed with Chancellor Angela Merkel that he should be removed from the bank's board.During the promotion for his book, Sarrazin maintained that Muslim immigrants in Europe are unwilling or incapable of integrating into western societies and that studies have proven that "all Jews share the same gene."
Although Merkel's government condemned his comments, it cannot force his departure due to the Bundesbank's independence.