Terminating Turkey's State-Funded Imam Program in Germany is on the Table
The German government and Turkey's religious authority have agreed to phase out the deployment of Turkish government-employed imams in Germany. The announcement came from the Federal Ministry of the Interior in Berlin on Thursday, as reported by NTV.de. Going forward, Germany will train 100 imams annually, and Turkey will reduce the number of Turkish clerics sent to Germany. The training will adhere to German values.
Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser expressed joy at the agreement, stating that it was the culmination of lengthy negotiations. She explained that the move would support Muslim community integration in Germany and promote preachers who spoke the local language, knew Germany, and shared the country’s values.
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The German government-backed imam training will be handled by Turkey-Islamic Union of the Institute for Religion (Ditib), the largest Islamic association in Germany with over 900 mosque communities. Currently, Ditib-affiliated imams have been sent from Turkey and are Turkish state employees from the Diyanet religious authority.
The Influence of Islamism in Germany:
While not explicitly addressed in the sources, broader context suggests concerns about Islamist and extremist influences in German Muslim communities. Salafism and violent jihadist groups like the True Religion (DWR) have gained traction in Germany. Both Hezbollah and Iranian influences have been identified in various northern German mosques and cultural centers. The Iranian regime's ties to the Blue Mosque in Hamburg have also raised concerns.
These issues have led to ongoing controversies, with the German state taking action to monitor and address extremist activities within Muslim communities. For instance, Hamburg Senate has been monitoring the Islamic Center Hamburg (IZH) since 1993, and in 2023, nationwide raids resulted in the shutdown of several mosques and associations linked to the IZH.
The Future of Muslim Integration in Germany:
The agreement between Germany and Turkey represents an important step in addressing the complex relationship between state authorities and Muslim communities. By promoting local imams who share German values, the government aims to foster integration and dialogue within the Muslim community. However, to truly address the challenges of Islamist extremism, long-term strategies and policies may be required.
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