Muslim Forum Germany

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The Muslim Forum Germany e. V. ( MFD ) is a platform for public figures who, according to their own statements , want to give a voice to humanistically oriented Muslims in Germany.

history

The Muslim Forum Germany was founded on April 22, 2015 with the support of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation . The first signatories of the declaration of incorporation included a. Mouhanad Khorchide , Erdal Toprakyaran , Lamya Kaddor , Marwan Abou Taam , Ralph Ghadban , Ahmad Mansour , Abdul-Ahmad Rashid , Güner Yasemin Balci , Cigdem Toprak , Ali Yildiz , Düzen Tekkal . Besides Sunnis and Shiites , Alevis , Yazidis and Christian supporters are also among the participants in the forum.

The psychologist Ahmad Mansour was elected spokesman for the Muslim Forum Germany .

On October 2, 2015, the Muslim Forum Germany published its Berlin theses . The forum specified its position on Islam in a total of 17 points.

The forum provides regular updates on its activities via its Facebook page.

Positions and goals

The Muslim Forum Germany sees itself as the voice of the humanistically oriented Muslims in Germany. In the opinion of the forum, these form the majority of Muslims in Germany, but are not represented by the existing Muslim institutions in Germany. In order not to be reduced to a “liberal” understanding of Islam, the term “liberal” was deliberately omitted in the founding declaration. Nevertheless, observers speak of liberal Muslims.

The forum would like to establish an understanding of Islam that is in line with the basic values ​​of the Basic Law and with German reality. In addition, they consider the development of Islamic theology to be incomplete. The basic pillars of the Islamic faith are unaffected by this. The Koran and Sunna must be understood in a historical context and interpreted using the historical-critical method . Humanistic Islam does not believe in possession of the ultimate truth and rejects exclusivism. Religion and politics have to be separated, also to protect religion from abuse by politics. Women should be able to live independently.

Specific individual demands of the forum include the freedom of women to wear or take off the headscarf. In the case of children, the forum generally speaks out against the headscarf. Education should aim at self-determination and convey the values ​​of the Basic Law . Patriarchal structures are rejected and the participation of all Muslim students in swimming lessons, school trips and sex education classes are required. Tolerance towards fanatics and an inhuman understanding of Islam, such as B. the Salafists, is rejected. Anti-Semitism , homophobia and hostility towards Germans are rejected, as is hatred of the “West”. On the other hand, the forum also turns against Islamophobia , clichés and undifferentiated reporting.

The Muslim Forum Germany regrets that

“Acts of terror are legitimized by positions within Islamic theology. An understanding of Islam that conveys content that favors radicalization is unfortunately part of the problem. We invite all Muslims to work with us to refute those Wahabi Salafist and other politicized forms of Islam and to counter them with determination. […] We can only protect the Koran and thus Islam from such abuse if we establish a historically critical reading of the Koran that locates the Koran in its historical context and thus defuses statements of violence. [...] Politicians and society are called upon to fight political Islam and jihadism more vigorously with all democratic means. Today it is more important than ever to actively convey democratic values ​​and an understanding of freedom. "

criticism

Thomas Lemmen , speaker for Christian-Islamic dialogue in the Archdiocese of Cologne and managing director of the Christian-Islamic Society , criticized the fact that the Muslim Forum Germany is not a religious community and therefore does not offer an alternative to the mosque associations. In his opinion, the discourse about a liberal Islam should take place in the mosque associations, while the Muslim Forum Germany secedes itself from them. In addition, the claim to represent the majority of Muslims is questionable. Lemmen also criticizes the fact that the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a party affiliated with the foundation, has influenced the establishment of a religious association.

The chairman of the Central Council of Muslims , Aiman ​​Mazyek , said: “In the past, Muslim think tanks have been initiated or established by foundations or academies.” In his opinion, this is based on the desire to get involved in the topic of Muslim life in Germany. Other association officials voiced their criticism behind closed doors. It is a "renewed attempt" to publicly question theological principles of Islam. Was criticized u. a. also the participation of the reform theologian Mouhanad Khorchide and the Islam critic Ralph Ghadban in the Muslim Forum Germany.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Press release Konrad Adenauer Foundation “Muslim Forum Germany” founded on April 22, 2015 on the initiative of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation
  2. ↑ Berlin Theses (accessed on September 2, 2016)
  3. ↑ a b Canan Topçu: More color for the Islam debate? in Qantara.de May 20, 2015
  4. ↑ a b c Muslim Forum Germany: Berlin Theses October 2, 2015
  5. ↑ Muslim Forum Germany / press release
  6. ↑ domradio.de: Islam expert is critical of the new Muslim forum: “This is not a religious community” domradio.de April 23, 2015