The German Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) has formally requested the Islamic Religious Association of Germany (Ditib) to unequivocally condemn both Islamism and antisemitism. A BMI spokesperson, quoted by “Welt” stated that cooperative partners of the German government are expected to demonstrate a clear distance from organizations and individuals disseminating antisemitic narratives or pursuing or supporting Islamist objectives.
The continuation of collaboration with associations and organizations will be contingent upon, in accordance with the government’s coalition agreement, the extent to which foreign governments exert influence or control. This year, the BMI has allocated €465,000 to support the training of Ditib imams. The training program, conducted in partnership with the Islamic College Germany (Islamkolleg Deutschland e.V.), represents a shift away from imams previously dispatched by the Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet).
The request follows a conference of Islamic scholars in Istanbul held at the end of August. During the event, involving Diyanet President Ali Erbas, a resolution was passed expressing support for the armed struggle of Hamas against Israel and calling for a “global Jihad.
A statement from the BMI highlighted that the events further underscored the problematic nature of Ditib’s structural and personnel ties to the Turkish religious authority. Fundamental prerequisites for collaboration with Ditib include a clear commitment to the values enshrined in the Basic Law, promoting international understanding, recognizing the right to exist of Israel and a similarly firm rejection of Islamism and antisemitism.
The BMI reiterated its objective of ending the dispatch of imams, emphasizing that the continuation of initiatives like the training program will significantly depend on Ditib’s conduct and the success of the ongoing process.