Some Muslims living in Finland are not satisfied with their Islamic education in schools, as critics say that the teachings are too closely tied to one particular sect. Finnish public schools are required to offer lessons in general Islam – i.e., teachings that are agreeable with all Muslims and sects. However, in the city of Turku, Shi’I Muslim parents say that all of the city’s teachers are giving instructions that are dominated by Sunni teachings. The issue is especially relevant in the Lausteen School in Turku, where nearly half of the students are from immigrant families that are mostly from Iran, Iraq, Somalia, and Kosovo. The school’s headmaster Lauri Tiikasalo says he is not qualified to judge the quality or direction of the Muslim classes at the school, pointing out a general shortage of Islamic education teachers across the country.
