This is how other European countries manage Islam
Most have adopted measures for the integration of magnets
BarcelonaWhat is happening in Spain and Catalonia is not an exception. All European countries face the same challenge: they don't know exactly what is happening in mosques and they have foreign imams with limited knowledge of the language and the country's social, cultural, and legal context. So far, no country has found a magic bullet for this situation, but most have taken steps. These are some of the initiatives.
Germany
Since 2012, up to eight centers of Islamic theology have been established at public universities in Germany, including those in Münster, Osnabrück, Tübingen, Frankfurt-Giessen, Erlangen-Nuremberg, and Berlin, "with the aim of training both teachers of Islamic education for schools and professionals," says Mouhanad Khorchide, professor of Islamic theology and Islamic religious education at the University of Münster. In addition, the states and municipalities regularly organize German language and intercultural training courses for imams, covering topics such as religious education, gender equality, and interfaith dialogue. "The aim is to help religious leaders in Germany adopt the language and values of a pluralistic society. However, it is a long-term process. We are at the beginning," adds Professor Khorchide. The courses are not compulsory because "that would be considered an intrusion into religious autonomy," he clarifies. Switzerland
“Imams are key figures as agents of integration. Therefore, they must know the language and also the Swiss context,” says Professor Hansjörg Schmid, director of the Swiss Center for Islam and Society at the University of Fribourg. For this reason, the Swiss government requires imams to have a B1 language certificate issued by an official language school or to pass an exam to demonstrate their proficiency. Furthermore, those from countries outside the European Union need “special permission” from the cantonal or federal authorities to practice in Switzerland if they come directly from these countries. This is not the case for those from other European Union countries. Since 2019, the Swiss Center for Islam and Society at the University of Fribourg has also been offering state-funded workshops for imams in collaboration with the country’s Muslim associations. "As a practical part of the workshop, the imams must carry out a project on integration or interfaith dialogue in the mosque, or work with state or civil society institutions," explains Professor Schmid, who clarifies that "the workshops are not mandatory, but almost all the imams participate."
Belgium
In Belgium, mosques have the option of state recognition, with the government covering the imam's salary. To qualify, they must serve a community of at least 200 people and submit to state oversight to ensure their ideology is not radical, explains Islamologist Michaël Privot, co-founder of the Muslim Council of Belgium, the institution responsible for the recognition process. Furthermore, the imam must commit in writing to "respect Belgian law and European values." Since 2015, they have also been required to be fluent in one of the country's official languages, although the administration is currently quite lenient on this last point. According to Privot, of the estimated 350 mosques in Belgium, approximately 100 have been recognized by the state, another 100 are in the process of being recognized, while the remainder have not expressed interest, as it is a voluntary procedure.
Caroline Sägesser, a researcher at the Belgian Center for Sociopolitical Research and Information (CRISP), questions the government's practice of paying imams' salaries, given that women are excluded from this role. She laments the lack of a permanent imam training program. However, she values the promotion of Islam in Belgian public schools since 1978, which aims to ensure the teaching of "an enlightened Islam" by university-trained teachers. "In Brussels, 53% of students study Islam," she cites as an example.
France
In 2021, France passed the so-called anti-separatist law, which stipulates that Islamic associations seeking public funding must commit to respecting secularism and the principles of the Republic, and can be held responsible for the actions of their members. It also increases prison sentences to five years for religious ministers who incite discrimination, hatred, or violence, reports [reportedly]. Laia Forès From Paris.
On the other hand, since last year, imams working in France cannot be employed by foreign countries, and their salaries must be paid by Islamic associations based in France. The creation of an imam statute, which will require imams to speak French, has also been announced, but it has not yet been implemented.
Fatiha Kaouès, a researcher at the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), explains that two-thirds of the estimated 1,800 imams in France work on a voluntary basis, and more than half of those employed earn less than €1,000 a month. "The well-paid ones were those employed by foreign states. According to my research, these imams are better trained than most French imams," she notes. She also points out that another controversial aspect is that intelligence services and prefects now monitor the content of sermons, and a significant number of mosques have been closed.
The United Kingdom
Imams from other countries must apply for a ministerial visa to practice in the UK, and must also demonstrate that they speak English, according to reports. Quim Aranda From London. The visa allows them to work for three years, extendable for another three. In addition, for years there have been multiple institutions in the United Kingdom for the training of imams in pastoral skills, civic responsibilities, interfaith work, and community leadership. For example, Muslim College, Cambridge Muslim College, Islamic College, or Markfield Institute. However, this training is not mandatory.
