- German Authorities to Educate and Train Imams Locally
The CSU party in Bavaria's state legislature advocates restricting foreign influence on imams in German mosques. According to Klaus Holetschek, the faction leader, only imams who have completed their education in Germany should be permitted to work here. At present, the vast majority of Islamic spiritual leaders operating in Germany have not undergone training within the country.
Nationwide, basic imam training is available, but it's offered only at the Islamic College in Osnabrück, with 26 individuals completing their studies last year. In Bavaria, a bachelor's degree program in "Islamic religious studies" is available at the University of Erlangen, although it does not result in a recognized imam certification. Expansion of the program is being considered, according to the university.
"Imams on the Constitution's Ground"
"Numerous imams active in Germany are currently dispatched from abroad," Holetschek contends. "We require transparency in training and standards that align with our principles!" He stresses the importance of ensuring that preachers and Muslim spiritual leaders adhere to the constitution. Critics argue that Turkish-sent imams primarily serve to strengthen the Turkish state's Islam. As a result, the federal government has previously reached an agreement with Turkey, stipulating that 100 imams should be trained in Germany annually, eventually replacing the state-appointed spiritual leaders.
"The federal government is presently acting haphazardly against political Islamism," Holetschek states. "It's undeniable: while upholding religious freedom and separating state and religious communities, all national initiatives should focus on delivering academic and spiritual instruction to imams in Germany." In other words, an imam hoping to work here must have completed their training in Germany.
Organizations: Keep the State Away
The German imam education system has been a contentious issue for decades and is particularly challenging. Many Islamic organizations maintain that the state should not involve itself in the training of spiritual leaders. Muslim communities find it challenging to afford imams unless they are financially supported from abroad.
Unlike, for example, the Roman Catholic Church, global Islam lacks a hierarchical structure. There are no negotiating partners for German authorities beyond their local regions or religious denominations that can be considered binding across regions or religious denominations. As a result, the Turkish Islam is structured differently than the Islam in Afghanistan or countries in North and East Africa.
The CSU party's stance on foreign influence aligns with their belief that only 'The Islamic' leaders who have completed their education within Germany should be allowed to work in German mosques. Despite the availability of basic imam training nationwide, the majority of Islamic spiritual leaders operating in Germany have not undergone training within the country.
