Germany: United Muslims Demand More Privileges
May 1, 2007
On April 11 this year, Der Spiegel and DPA/Expatica reported that four of the largest Muslim bodies in Germany had amalgamated to form an umbrella group. This new coalition is called the Coordination Council of Muslims in Germany (KRM).
It comprises the Turkish-Islamic Union for Relgious Affairs (DITIB), the Islamic Council (IR), the Central Council of Muslims (ZMD) and the Association of Islamic Culture Centers (VIKZ). By amalgamating, the member groups hope that they can have more influence on policies in Germany. The four groups will still exist outside of the KRM, stated Rafet Ozturk of DITIB. Ayyub Axel Koehler, president of the IR said: "As far as I am concerned, this is a dream come true."
The spokesman for DITIB, one of the component groups, announced then in Cologne that KRM will open offices in every German state. He invited individual mosques and Muslim associations to join KRM.
This pressure group was not supported by secular Muslims. One politician, Lale Akgun, a member of parliament and the Social Democratic Party's liaison person with Islam, said: "I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if these four organizations were granted the power to define what Islam is in Germany. They jointly represent a very conservative Islam. There is no room among them for liberal views."
On April 11 this year, Der Spiegel and DPA/Expatica reported that four of the largest Muslim bodies in Germany had amalgamated to form an umbrella group. This new coalition is called the Coordination Council of Muslims in Germany (KRM).
It comprises the Turkish-Islamic Union for Relgious Affairs (DITIB), the Islamic Council (IR), the Central Council of Muslims (ZMD) and the Association of Islamic Culture Centers (VIKZ). By amalgamating, the member groups hope that they can have more influence on policies in Germany. The four groups will still exist outside of the KRM, stated Rafet Ozturk of DITIB. Ayyub Axel Koehler, president of the IR said: "As far as I am concerned, this is a dream come true."
The spokesman for DITIB, one of the component groups, announced then in Cologne that KRM will open offices in every German state. He invited individual mosques and Muslim associations to join KRM.
This pressure group was not supported by secular Muslims. One politician, Lale Akgun, a member of parliament and the Social Democratic Party's liaison person with Islam, said: "I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if these four organizations were granted the power to define what Islam is in Germany. They jointly represent a very conservative Islam. There is no room among them for liberal views."
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posted by jillosophy at 5/03/2007 01:15:00 PM
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