(Munster) Two of Germany's biggest Muslim federations, the Central
Council of Muslims in Germany (ZMD) and the Islamrat ("Islam
council"), last week saw their bid to get schools in the western state of
North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) to adopt Islamic religious lessons thrown out of
court .
This was due to the fact that both Islamic federations do not possess the necessary authority over Germany's Muslim community to claim the status of representing them all. (In other words Islamic politics) Naturally both associations have issued statements expressing their disappointment.
"We regret the decision … because first and foremost it does not offer the undisputed needs of Muslim children in schools in North Rhine-Westphalia any secure prospect for the future,"
The Islamrat said the court had missed a chance to send an
"important signal to the Muslims in the country and an important step
towards providing them a home in Germany." The association also criticized
what it saw as the state government's failure to hear official assessments of
its status, and added that it would continue to "work constructively on
the permanent establishment of an Islamic religious class."
