Three German states, Hamburg and Hesse and Bremen have recognized Muslim groups as official religious bodies, paving the way for Muslims to offer their own religion classes in schools and win a wider recognition in the European country.
“That sends a cl
ear signal that Islam belongs to Germany,” Erol Purlu, spokesman for the German Muslim Coordination Council, told Deutsche Welle
Under the contact, Muslim holidays as `Eid Al-Fitr and `Eid Al-Adha will be recognized as official vacations.
Purlu described the signed contact with the state of Bremen as a “day of joy”.
The Bremen contact followed similar documents that recognize Muslim organizations in Hamburg and Hesse.
The official recognition of Muslim groups as religious bodies allows them the right to minister to Muslims in prisons, hospitals and other public institutions.
Muslims are allowed – within certain legal constraints – to build mosques and bury their dead by their own religious rites.
The contracts are a milestone in the relationship between German states and Muslim associations.
Muslim groups like the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DITIB) and the Association of Islamic Cultural Centers (VIKZ) have long campaigned for recognition as religious bodies.
Germany has between 3.8 and 4.3 million Muslims, making up some 5 percent of the total 82 million population, according to government-commissioned studies.
Recognition
Muslims hail the contacts as a major breakthrough that gives new freedoms to the minority.
For instance, Muslim religious holidays are now recognized as official vacations.
“It is no longer decided at the discretion of the authorities or the schools or the employers,” Purlu said.
“Muslims now have a legal right to a holiday.”
http://www.onislam.net/english/news/europe/461133-germany-moves-to-recognize-islam.html
Categories: Europe, Germany, Law and Religion
Muslims hail the contacts as a major breakthrough that gives new freedoms to the minority.
For instance, Muslim religious holidays are now recognized as official vacations.
“It is no longer decided at the discretion of the authorities or the schools or the employers,” Purlu said.
“Muslims now have a legal right to a holiday.”
Only if enjoying holiday is Islam then one can say Muslims in Germany have got some advantage. How the decision will on ground is a different story. Biggest break through will come that day when Islam will be accepted as religion at state level. No Muslim group has such status until now. Jews do enjoy it. Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat is struggling hard for its status as Muslim religious entity. Let us pray and hope it gets success.
Thanks for update
Religious classes in school?!
I hope they teach the true Islam not the mutilated version.
This is amazing step for Muslims. I hope it brings blessed results. Yeey Germany!