Demonstrations

Radical Islamists gather in Hamburg to call for caliphate Muslim Interaktiv is classified as extremist by the Hamburg Office for the Protection of the Constitution.

(Jerusalem Post) Over 2000 radical Islamists gathered in Hamburg, Germany, on Saturday to call for a caliphate and the implementation of Sharia law, German news reported. In the footage from the gathering, crowds could be heard chanting Allahu Akhbar, among other things. The […]

Academics & Education

German Islamic teacher’s license revoked for being too liberal Abdel-Hakim Ourghi has written books including 'You Don't Have to Wear a Headscarf' and 'Reform Islam: 40 Theses.' His application to train other Islamic teachers was turned down for vague reasons.

(Deutsche Welle) A German Islamic scholar has had his teaching license rejected because of his “liberal theological convictions,” one of his peers told a newspaper on Saturday. Islam expert Susanne Schröter spoke out in support of Abdel-Hakim Ourghi, who headed the Islamic […]

Government & Politics

Germany: Conservatives seek to isolate Islamist groups Germany's governing conservative bloc is planning to cut all government ties with groups suspected of supporting political Islamism, according to a report in Die Welt. Large Muslim umbrella organizations may be affected.

(Deutsche Welle) The parliamentary group of Germany’s ruling conservative bloc has called for an end to cooperation with groups suspected of supporting political Islamism, the newspaper Die Welt reported on Tuesday. The bloc, made up of Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU) and […]

Academics & Education

Germany’s imam quandary: Educate, don’t import Ending foreign influence on Muslim religious leaders' education is a long-term goal for the German government. A new study might lead the way for training local imams, if all parties involved are willing to participate.

(Deutsche Welle) A new report published Tuesday proposes a concrete solution to Germany’s ongoing dilemma about how to educate Islamic religious leaders. The goal is to create a seminar that would offer graduates of Islamic theology institutes in Germany the possibility to […]

Academics & Education

Germany to push for imams to be trained locally, not abroad In an effort to curb foreign influence and foster integration, the German government is pressing for imams to be educated locally, in Germany. Are German Muslim communities willing to back the idea? DW investigates.

(Deutsche Welle) Forty-three-year-old imam Murat Gül is president of the Islamic Federation of Berlin and teaches Islam at the local Rosa Parks primary school. “Ever since I was a young boy, I had a love for the Koran,” said Gül, who was […]