(Deutsche Welle) There are about 2,800 mosques in Germany. Often, they find themselves at the center of discussions or disputes, especially whenever Islamic houses of worship with distinctive characteristics, such as a tall minaret, appear as part of the cityscape.
Although the same standards generally apply to mosques as to churches or synagogues, much depends on the local regulations of each municipality.
These sorts of situations are where 44-year-old Hussein Hamdan can step in. A doctor of Islamic and religious studies, he has become Germany’s first Islamic affairs consultant, in which capacity he helps to resolve conflicts between Muslim communities and local government authorities. For the past eight years, Hamdan has worked as an Islamic affairs consultant in the southwestern German state of Baden-Württemberg.
