Migration


Islam Summit

On September 27, 2006 German Interior Minister Dr. Wolfgang Schaeuble will open a conference on German Islam. Thirty people will participate (15 Muslims and 15 representatives of the German federal state, the "Laender" and Communities). To underline the importance of this conference, the opening will take place in a very impressive and stately atmosphere: in the Orangerie of the Charlottenburg Castle in Berlin. The conference will continue its work for 2 or 3 years. The aim is to start a significant dialogue with Islam in Germany. The goal to write a "social treaty" out of the dialogue has been modified to that of defining an "agreement".

Within the next 2 or 3 years, 4 working groups with 25 participants each will work on the following topics (FAS, Sept. 17, 2006):

- State and Religion
- Values and the Understanding of the Constitution
- Economy and Education
- Security

Who will represent the Muslims in Germany?
The invitation to 15 Muslims have already caused critical discussions and dissatisfaction mainly among Islamic organizations. There are more than 3.2 million Muslims living in Germany (Frankfurter Rundschau, Sept. 16, 2006). Minister Schaeuble has invited (FAS, Sept. 17, 2006):

1. Members of Islamic organizations. There are 5 major Islamic organizations in Germany but the extent of their membership is not known. Estimations range between 15 and 30 %. The largest organization is the "Turkish-Islamic Union of the Organization for Religion". This organization cooperates very closely with the Turkish state.

2. Furthermore, Mr. Schaeuble has invited people who are "iberal" Muslims. Among them are Necla Kelek, a sociologist, and Seyran Ates, a lawyer. Both are critical of the deprived Turkish women in Turkish families and of forced marriages. However, Kelek's book "Die fremde Braut - Ein Bericht aus dem Inneren des tuerkischen Lebens in Deutschland" (2005) has been criticized in an open letter by 60 scholars because of its unscientific exploration, among them the well-known Prof. Barbara John, Berlin (Die Zeit, February 1, 2006). Another participant will be Mr. Zaimoglu, a writer and Turkish immigrant who became famous for "Kanak Sprak" - a Turkish-German mixture of language.

3. Business men (like Walid Nakschbandi, Afghanistan immigrant) and scholars of Islam.

A complete list of participants is not yet available.

Criticism:
Representatives of Islamic organizations criticize that at least 10 representatives of Muslims will be "liberal" Muslims.  Ali Kizilkaya (Islamrat Deutschland which is dominated by Milli Goerues) maintains that participants like Mrs. Kelek are not recognized for Muslim piety (FAS, Sept. 17, 2006). Another critical point is the fact that it has not yet decided whether Milli Goerues, a very conservative Islamic organization will be invited. Milli Goerues has been observed by the German office for the Protection of the Constitution for several years. It was founded in Koeln in 1985, has a membership of 26,500 and has built more than 500 mosques and cultural organizations in Germany. It is of Turkish background (Verfassungsschutzbericht 2004, Bonn 2005, pp.211-218).

FAS reports: Some participants in the conference are of the opinion that the German majority population and the Muslim minority can be considered an "old couple" because they have been living together for 40 years. But now the husband has realized that his wife has been depressed for 30 years (the participant who made this comparison is not known). According to others, there is a great longing for leaving the „grimy corner“ (FAS, Sept. 17, 2006).

What may be the result?
According to Mr. Koerting, Senator of Berlin: "The dialogue is almost more important than the result" (FAS, Sept. 17, 2006). FAS reports that Minister Schaeuble is interested in the empowerment of a modern European Islam (FAS, Sept. 17, 2006).

Sources:
Bundesministerium des Innern, Verfassungsschutzbericht 2004, Berlin 2005
Die Zeit, February 1, 2006, No. 6
Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAS), September 17, 2006
Frankfurter Rundschau, September 16, 2006