Central Council of Muslims in Germany
The Central Council of Muslims in Germany ( ZMD) applies in addition to the larger Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs, the Association of Islamic Cultural Centres, the Alevi community Germany eV and the Islamic Council for the Federal Republic of Germany eV as one of the important Islamic umbrella organizations in Germany. Was the founding chairman since 1994 Nadeem Elyas, later honorary chairman of the Central Council. When his successor in 2006 Ayyub Axel Köhler was elected. He was succeeded in 2010 Aiman Mazyek, the former Secretary-General. In the function of the Secretary Mazyek followed the lawyer Nurhan Soykan. Headquarters of the Federation and jurisdiction is Cologne.
Scope and significance
In ZMD non-Turkish Muslims are mostly organized. Currently, the organizations connected to the ZMD have about 15,000 to 20,000 members. A number of organizations Arabic, German and multi- ethnic backgrounds are involved in the Central. The importance of the Central Council, the umbrella organization in Germany stems from the fact that he is a counterweight to the more by the Turkish Islam forms as association with multiethnic individual organizations as members embossed German Islamic Council. Organized and religiously oriented liberal Muslims who feel represented by any of the umbrella organizations are organized in the Liberal Islamic Federation.
History
The club went from 1994 to the Islamic Working Group Germany out. Until 2000, the Association of Islamic Cultural Centres eV was with 22,000 members the largest member association of the ZMD. From its founding in 1994 until June 30, 2006 was the seat of the Central Eschweiler. The Central Council of Muslims is a founding member of the existing since April 2007 Coordination Council of Muslims.
Objectives
Together with the Islamic Council, he created commissions to life, operate the lobbying for the issue of Islamic religious instruction at German schools and for an exemption for ritual slaughter in Germany.
" The Central Council of Muslims in Germany [ ... ] understood as a discussion and action level of its members and takes on the task of a dialogue and contact person for the German government, the administration and other groups in society come true. "
" The council hopes the mosques, Islamic associations, federations and umbrella organizations not replace or compete with them, he wants rather represent their common interests as a social group before the authorities and demand the rights they are entitled to as a religious community on their behalf. "
Financing
The ZMD is funded primarily through membership fees, fundraising in mosques and private donations.
Criticism and allegation of connection to Islamism
The Central Council is occasionally criticized for not being fundamentally distanced themselves from the Sharia, which devout Muslims also is not possible, however, since most of the Sharia ( the same Christian catechisms ) refers to religious rules. The views of the Central Council for the equality of men and women are criticized because they do not correspond to the principles enshrined in the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany fundamental right of equality. Also, the position of the "Islamic Charter " - " There is no contradiction between the teachings of Islam and the core human rights " - was criticized in public.
"It is positive to emphasize that one is a match for the core portfolio, in particular the protection of the individual against the abuse of state power, and sees it again on the need to recognize the " indicating local jurisdiction. " But at the same time, the phrase " core elements " of certain aspects of international human rights declarations are not considered mandatory. The Central seems to follow, in which human rights are understood as a gift and grace of God and bound to the fulfillment of religious duties in his view, the position of Islamic human rights declarations ( 1981 and 1990). Given the fears that connect not only with non-Muslims, but also in large parts of the Muslim population with a conservative interpretation of Sharia law, this thesis does not contribute to building trust with, but confirms existing fears. "
Also from the Muslim side was criticism on this passage. So Ahmad said of Denffer: " But in fact exist between the teachings of Islam and the ' human rights ' irreconcilable differences, particularly with regard to the woman. " Denffer criticism that the council hopes to be satisfied in the long run so that Muslims their affairs in future not can regulate according to Islamic law.
In particular, the Central Council has been accused to present themselves to dialogue on the outside, while inside the establishment of an Islamic society is target in Germany. Nadeem Elyas was a board member of the Islamic Centre Aachen and is now member of the Council. The ideologically radical German offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood is operating internationally under the Constitution protect the Islamic Community in Germany ( IGD ); she is also a member of the ZMD and has also founded it together with the Islamic Center of Munich and MSV.
The Secretary General, Nurhan Soykan declared in May 2012 to the debate about the actions of the Salafists in Germany: "We dissociate ourselves from violent Muslims who incite vigilantism and attack the police. "
Member organizations of the Central
(As of 2013)
In this Annual Report of the State of Lower Saxony in 2005 were about half of the then 19 member clubs of the ZMD, including the Muslim Brotherhood attributable Islamic Community in Germany e V. ( IGD ), classified as Islamist organizations. Nine of the 19 Member organizations should maintain contacts with the Muslim Brotherhood. In the opinion of Ursula winder - Stegemann from the year 2007 the majority of the member organizations of the Muslim Brotherhood is close.
Associate Members
Chairman
- Nadeem Elyas 1994 - 2006
- Ayyub Axel Köhler 2006 - 2010
- Aiman Mazyek since 2010