The head of the Turkish Community in Germany, Gökay Sofuoglu, has expressed support for the introduction of standardized Islamic religious instruction in German schools. In a statement to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland, Sofuoglu argued that such instruction should be implemented on a national scale, mirroring the existing provision for Catholic and Protestant religious education. He emphasized the importance of creating a unified approach, while acknowledging the necessity for the state to maintain its secular stance.
Sofuoglu cautioned that the realization of this initiative would require the identification of a nationwide Islamic cooperation partner, a resource currently lacking. He also highlighted the complexities arising from the fact that education is primarily the responsibility of individual German states (Länder), raising questions about the feasibility of a nationwide regulatory framework.
The call for comprehensive Islamic religious instruction in schools was initially made on Tuesday by the association for Education and Pedagogy (VBE). The association’s proposal has now gained support from a prominent voice within the Turkish community, although challenges remain regarding implementation and coordination.
