Examining mosques, their spatial contexts, and the struggles to create, negotiate and improve their spaces in Stuttgart reveals the complex and controversial nature of spatial articulation for... Show moreExamining mosques, their spatial contexts, and the struggles to create, negotiate and improve their spaces in Stuttgart reveals the complex and controversial nature of spatial articulation for Muslim communities in this German city. These processes symbolize the broader struggles of Muslims and Muslim communities for recognition and participation in German cities and society at large. Show less
Recent discussions in Germany around modes of dealing with the growing cultural-religious plurality reveal a widespread consensus that the so-called Dutch “model of multiculturalism” is a complete... Show moreRecent discussions in Germany around modes of dealing with the growing cultural-religious plurality reveal a widespread consensus that the so-called Dutch “model of multiculturalism” is a complete failure. However further examination reveals that this current backlash against multiculturalism is more of a symptom for a widely held discomfort caused by the realization that Islam has become an integral part of German society. Show less
Muslim institutions in Europe harbour growing expert knowledge. One example of this development comprises the syllabi for religious instruction of Muslim children at public schools that have been... Show moreMuslim institutions in Europe harbour growing expert knowledge. One example of this development comprises the syllabi for religious instruction of Muslim children at public schools that have been developed in different European contexts. Among other things, these instruction programmes aim at positioning their clientele vis-á-vis the religious sources, in a particular community and society. The premises on which these positionings are based, as well as their religious-theological justification and legitimation, form the focus of a thesis project that incorporates syllabus outlines and instruction materials from Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. Show less
Germany is becoming a multi-faith society at a rapid pace. The influx of foreign workers and a liberal policy towards fugitives and asylum-seekers made Islam the third religious force of the... Show moreGermany is becoming a multi-faith society at a rapid pace. The influx of foreign workers and a liberal policy towards fugitives and asylum-seekers made Islam the third religious force of the country. As immigrants become citizens, the Muslim faith is slowly being institutionalized. In public discourse arguments flare up, exposing a deeply felt contrariety between the Christian and Muslim faiths. On the part of the German general public, Muslim claims to particularity (places for prayer in schools, separation for biology instruction) meet with resistance, as Muslim activity is suspected of serving political, not religious aims. Questions are being publicly raised as to whether Muslim communities should be forced to adopt cultural ideals such as gender equality. The educational system offers a stage on which this battle over difference is acted out. Show less
In the past decade, Alevis in Germany have stressed their distinctness mainly in terms of culture when negotiating with the majority society. Since recently, however, an increased emphasis on... Show moreIn the past decade, Alevis in Germany have stressed their distinctness mainly in terms of culture when negotiating with the majority society. Since recently, however, an increased emphasis on religion can be observed, which is not so much due to a regained strength of religiosity. It is rather a response to changed public discourses and an adjustment to the prevailing legal and institutional conditions. In Germany, the issue of immigration has been treated in terms of cultural difference since long ago, the religious identity of the mainly Muslim immigrants having nearly no impact on integration policy. Yet since the end of the 1990s, when attention was drawn to fundamentalist tendencies among the Muslim youth, the religious dimension of immigration has been brought to the fore. Show less
Similar to the overall situation in Western Europe, the Muslim youth of Turkish background in Germany are quite different to the generation of their parents. Far from homogeneity, being a Muslim is... Show moreSimilar to the overall situation in Western Europe, the Muslim youth of Turkish background in Germany are quite different to the generation of their parents. Far from homogeneity, being a Muslim is nowadays made up of differentiation, cultural complexity, and mobility at an individual level even if communal features remain relevant. The following aims at briefly reviewing these trends while underlining the opportunities provided by the German context. Show less
