On the 19th December 2016, Tunisian national Anis Amri drove deliberately with a hijacked truck into the Christmas Market at the Breitscheidplatz in Berlin, killing 12 and injuring more than 50 people. In the morning he had been visiting the Mosque Fussilet 33, which according to the police was a meeting point for Islamists. The terror attack triggered a public outcry and led to an increasing securitisation of Islam in public debates. Mosques as a contact point - both for Muslims in Germany and for those which come as migrants - thus form a special point of interest to be able to understand which values and beliefs influence Muslims in Germany.
To this end, this paper investigates the potential of Mosques for both radicalisation and integration. It firstly analyses the factors that facilitate radicalisation, and secondly offers ideas on how to use mosques for integration, particularly pointing out the special responsibility of Imams. To offer a well-balanced analysis, this paper employs quantitative sources such as official data by the Ministry of Migration and Refugees and qualitative sources including speeches held at the German Islamic Conference and the work of Islamic Studies scholars.
This paper argues that Mosques are of great influence as they form a contact point for Muslims in Germany and offer guidelines and lifestyle advice. Mosques thus have great potential: as a place for radicalisation but also as a place for integration. Mosques can be used by Salafists and radical returnees from fighting to promote a radical agenda. To use the ‘positive’ potential for integration, the role of the imam is of particular significance, here it is essential that the imam is integrated both into his home and host society, in order to function as a bridge.
Furthermore, the potential of women has to be further expanded, to enable them to take on more active roles in shaping the community. This paper is structured as followed: firstly, an overview is given on the emergence of Islam in Germany, the organisation and the role of Mosques and the function of Imams. In the analytical section, the potential for radicalisation is first explored, followed by an outline of the potential for integration, including ideas of how to fully use this positive potential.
Table of Contents
1) INTRODUCTION
2) BACKGROUND
3) MOSQUES AS A SPHERE OF RADICALISATION
4) MOSQUES AS A SPHERE OF INTEGRATION
5) CONCLUSION
6) REFERENCES
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper examines the dual potential of mosques in Germany as both sites of radicalisation and as essential hubs for integration, specifically investigating how the role of Imams and institutional structures influence these outcomes.
- The influence of mosques on the values and beliefs of Muslims in Germany.
- Mechanisms of radicalisation within specific mosque environments and the role of Salafism.
- The structural dependence of DITIB mosques on the Turkish state authority (Diyanet).
- Strategies for leveraging mosques as bridges for social and cultural integration.
- The evolving role of Imams and the potential for increased participation of women in community life.
Excerpt from the Book
Potential influence on migrants and home grown jihadists
In 2015, the BfV recorded 441,899 asylum applications of which approximately 43% came from persons from the Arabic-speaking Islamic countries (BfV, 2017a). Mosques in Germany generally welcome the increased visitation of their mosques by migrants. The influx of migrants widens their audience and offers additional missionary opportunities. The imams and functionaries frequently pursue this goal with their sermons and events to counteract a feared "capture" of migrants by Western culture and propagate the demarcation of persons of Christian or Jewish faith. Thus, the danger of Islamist radicalization of migrants exists. More than 340 cases were reported to authorities, in which Islamists attempted to get in contact with migrants. While most contact occur in the vicinity of immigrant housing, contacts also occur when migrants visit Islamist mosques (Ibid).
However, the BfV points out that the majority of those seeking protection in Germany come from crisis-hit countries such as Syria and Iraq, where brutal jihadist violence and persecution drove their escape (Ibid). Thus it seems unlikely that such migrants will actively seek connections with individuals or organizations that propagate an extremist understanding of Islam. In fact, it was found that migrants avoid or leave Islamist mosques because of the prevailing content (Ibid).
The situation is different with regard to migrants who already had sympathy for Islamist or even jihadist groups in their home country. This sympathy could be strengthened in their views by visiting Islamist mosques. Of particular importance is the personal situation of a migrant, which could trigger a shift to Islamism. The BfV names low prospects of involvement in the German labour market, experiences of discrimination or intensified (right-wing extremist) attacks against alleged or actual foreigners can lead to frustration and provide fertile ground for extremist radicalization processes of individuals (Ibid).
Summary of Chapters
1) INTRODUCTION: Provides the context of the 2016 Berlin terror attack and defines the paper's goal to analyze the negative and positive potentials of mosques in Germany.
2) BACKGROUND: Traces the history of Muslim migration to Germany, specifically the Turkish "Gastarbeiter" program, and presents demographic data on the Muslim population.
3) MOSQUES AS A SPHERE OF RADICALISATION: Analyzes how extremist groups utilize mosques for radicalization and explores the political influence of the Turkish Diyanet on German mosque associations.
4) MOSQUES AS A SPHERE OF INTEGRATION: Discusses the necessity of professionalizing Imams, improving language skills, and involving women to transform mosques into successful integration bridges.
5) CONCLUSION: Summarizes the findings and emphasizes that mosques possess great potential, the realization of which depends on both the mosque communities and the host society.
6) REFERENCES: Lists the academic sources, official reports, and media coverage used to support the paper's analysis.
Keywords
Mosques, Islam in Germany, Radicalisation, Integration, Imams, DITIB, Diyanet, Salafism, Migration, Jihadists, Friday Sermons, Social Cohesion, Women in communities, Secularization, Terrorism Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines how mosques in Germany function as critical social spaces that can either facilitate the radicalization of individuals or serve as vital platforms for the integration of Muslims into German society.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The research focuses on the historical background of Islam in Germany, the functions and leadership of mosques, the impact of Turkish state influence via Diyanet, and the challenges regarding integration versus demarcation.
What is the central research question?
The paper asks how the potential of mosques can be utilized to move away from radicalization toward a constructive role in the integration of Muslim minorities within the German democratic system.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses a combination of quantitative official data (e.g., from the BAMF and the BfV) and qualitative research, including analyses of speeches at the German Islamic Conference and investigative reports by Islamic Studies scholars.
What does the main body of the work address?
The main body investigates the infrastructure of radicalization, the problematic influence of foreign state-controlled religious authorities on sermons, and proposes solutions such as better training for Imams and enhanced educational outreach.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Mosques, Radicalisation, Integration, Imams, DITIB, Salafism, Migration, and Jihadists.
How does the author describe the impact of DITIB's relationship with Diyanet?
The author highlights this dependency as a barrier to integration, noting that Diyanet's sermons often focus on binding the Turkish community to Turkey rather than fostering identification with the German social order.
What role do women play in the context of the mosques described?
The author suggests that the inclusion of women is crucial, as they are central to the inner vitality of mosque communities and can significantly influence the social and political self-perception of the community.
- Quote paper
- Inga von der Stein (Author), 2017, The Muslim Minority in Germany. Mosques as a place of radicalisation and integration, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/435457
