The “Konrad Adenauer” foundation, the political foundation of the Christian Democratic Union party (CDU) has initiated the Forum, stating to provide a platform for “liberal Islam”. Muslims in Germany would not be represented sufficiently. The chair of the Adenauer foundation Hans-Gert Pöttering described the Forum as enriching contribution to the current debate about Islam in Germany. He emphasized the importance of the Forum for individual freedom and the German principles of freedom, democratic basic values.
Also the Alevi and the Yezidi community participate in the Forum for Muslims in Germany, aiming to represent German Muslims in politics and public. The Forum has published a paper stating the positions and goals of the Forum. The paper has been signed by the head of center for Islamic theology at the University of Munster Mouhanad Khorchide and the director of the center for Islamic theology at the University of Tubingen, Erdal Toprakyaran.
The new founded Forum has been criticized by observers and Muslims associations. Thomas Lemmen, theologist and expert for Christian and Islamic dialogue at the archbishopric Aachen, does not see a problem in initiating more Muslims organizations. However, terms such as “liberal Islam” would be problematic nurturing conflicts within the Muslim community. Such terms create the impression of having a class based system within the community with better forms of Islam, more “democratic” and “liberal” than the average. Lemmen expressed harsh criticism towards the Konrad Adenauer foundation violating the principles of secularism in Germany. The political foundation supports processes of creating news Islamic structure.
Ayman Mazyek, chair of the council of Muslims in Germany said that the Forum would not be the first initiative of German foundations or academic institutions to initiate Muslim think tanks. According to Mazyek, the hidden agenda is to intervene in topics related to Muslims life in Germany. With regards to equality and equal treatment of churches and Muslim institutions, the chair of the central council of Muslims expressed his curiosity to see the will and attempts of the State to apply more equality and equal treatment to the approximate 2000 Muslim associations in Germany.
(In German only – Pdf document – Forum of Muslims in Germany)
http://www.kas.de/wf/doc/kas_41089-544-1-30.pdf?150422155614