Educating Islamic theologians – schoolteachers and imams – at German universities has caused a lot of discussion in the past. Now the Wissenschaftsrat (German Council of Science and Humanities) has proposed a concept to grant both universities and Muslim associations a say in the education, but it is still likely to stir controversy. So far,…
Due to poor test results and a shortage of pupils, the government will cease funding for the Amsterdam Islamtitische College, Junior Minister Marja van Bijsterveldt announced. The college is one of only two Islamic colleges in the Netherlands. School chairman Farid Zaari says the college is ‘extremely disappointed’. The minister could use her discretion to…
This week De Telegraaf publishes an interview with Yusuf Altuntas, principal of the ISBO, the Netherlands’ umbrella organization for Islamic education, in advance of its annual address. Venues for Islamic education in the country include 42 elementary and 2 secondary schools serving approximately 10,000 pupils. Altuntas addressed plans to improve ratings for school inspections through…
Yemeni cleric who allegedly was in contact with Major Hasan and Abdulmutallab has been targeted for arrest. The cleric has had little trouble from law enforcement until now, despite his support of al-Qaida and attempts to spread the ideology in the Muslim world. Authorities’ failure to react to him and other Islamist radicals in Yemen…
Public schools in Amsterdam’s Slotervaart district will not offer Islam classes, Telegraaf reports. The classes were requested a year ago by district mayor Ahmed Marouch, who hoped that offering the classes outside the regular school-day would offer parents an alternative to religious education in the mosques. Currently, in-school Islamic classes are offered to children in…
