Munich Forum for Islam

The Munich Forum for Islam (German: Münchner Forum für Islam, or MFI), formerly known as the Center for Islam in Europe-Munich (German: Zentrum für Islam in Europa - München, or ZIEM), is an initiative that aims to foster the identity of Muslims in Munich, Germany. MFI wants to promote Islam as peaceful religion, which supports the values of a liberal and modern constitutional state.[1] The MFI is composed of a mosque, a museum, a community center, and the Islam Academy.[2] The initiative was largely financed by the Wahhabi Gulf country of Qatar.[3]

Mission

The people of MFI believe that they are called upon to contribute to and share in a free and equal society in modern Europe, in accordance with the message of Allah and in accordance with the universal principles of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The MFI recognizes two non-competing authorities: Allah’s revelation and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany on the other hand.[2]

MFI wants to build a bridge between Islam and Europe. Although Islam has been residing in Europe for centuries, little is known about its contributions to European art and culture. MFI desires mediate between one extreme that promotes the exclusion of Islam from European culture, viewing Islam as a general threat to Western values and the other extreme which views Europe as the enemy of Islam and proclaims Islam and Western democratic values as incompatible. MFI hold an appreciation for both Europe and Islam, and believes that entities can co-exist while preserving the identity of both. MFI aims to create openness for Europe and Islam, an atmosphere of mutual acceptance and respect, and integration and harmony of their values so as to eradicate tensions.[2]

The MFI wants to focus on the concerns of the new generation of Muslim youth using contemporary approaches. They believe in fostering the comprehension of an academically profound and sophisticated Islam and to aid in the support of a European Muslim identity. MFI believes that Muslims should change their perspective to allow for criticism and to develop new approaches and interpretations without forgoing cultural heritage. MFI wants to contribute to an intact and likewise indigenous and multicultural Munich. They do not aim to create Muslim ghettos or parallel societies but to be a shining example of a modern, urban European and Bavarian society.[2]

Philosophy

MFI aims to be innovative, integrated, identity establishing, equal, rational, and communicative.

MFI seeks to remain detached from the influences of foreign countries of origin and to distinguish themselves from other Muslim communities in that way. They are progressive and responsive to the present needs of the contemporary Muslims living in Germany. They want to be a valued partner for the Muslims in Bavaria, helping them to unite their Islamic identity with the democratic and pluralistic society in Germany. To that end, MFI promotes integration, open dialogue, and participation in all aspects of German society. They do not believe that the language, German, the country, Germany, and the religion of Islam are incompatible. Indeed, the MFI believes that the German language and democratic values can help confirm the identity of Muslims in Germany.[2] The MFI define themselves as “European Muslims,” linking Islam and modernity. “The other” is neither enemy nor adversary to the MFI. They espouse the merits of human rights, democracy and rule of law, freedom of religion and expression, pluralism of thought, religion, and language, education, tolerance, fairness and equality.[2]

The MFI also seeks to represent the interests of Muslims on a federal and state level in Germany. They want to achieve this by accepting diversity as opportunity to allow for the equal participation of all religions including Judaism and Christianity.[2]

The MFI believe that each act of pressure, violence, terror, and suicide is in contradiction with the sanctity of life and God’s human creatures. All forms of violence, both physical and emotional, are condemned in the extreme. The MFI does not allow for reproach, humiliation, or condemnation on the basis of belief, gender, language, religion, nationality, social status or way of life.[2]

The MFI supports the equal status of men and woman throughout society as men and women are also equal before God. Women have the same autonomy concerning both behavior and action with men. MFI claims that the active and visible participation of Muslim woman will be necessary to the development of the community. In this way, the MFI hopes to set an example to the entire Muslim world based on Prophet Muhammad’s statement, “women are the men’s sisters.” This is a focal point for the MFI who seek emancipation into every aspect of Islamic life.[2]

History

The plan for the Center for Islam in Europe-Munich, ZEIM, was introduced by Benjamin Idriz, a Macedonian born Imam, in 2011 when he approached the former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, to discuss a €40 Million donation for the project to create a mosque and cultural center for Bavaria’s 100,000 Muslims. The mosque gathered cross party support from the city council in Munich and the German government. Mr. Idriz was adamant that he did not want foreign backers to exert influence on the center but rather wanted the center to be independent because he believed that in order to counter popular misconceptions about Islam, Germans should be getting their ideas about Islam from no place other than Germany. Mr. Idriz said that, “ZEIM has a good chance of becoming a beacon project for a modern, Western Islam.”[4]

In 2013 ZEIM changed its name to the Munich Forum for Islam (MFI) in an effort to calm public concern about the Mosque’s ambitions for Europe.[5]

Components

MFI is composed of four components: Mosque, Museum, Community Centre, and Islam-Academy.

Mosque of MFI

The mosque is a place for worship and for being closer to God. But it is also a gathering place for meetings and exchanges as well as a channel for new ideas. The mosque is an open and welcoming place for all people without respect to their gender, language, origin, or worldview. There is no scale that rates people based on being man or woman, with or without headscarf, very religious or less religious. German will be the central language of communication within the mosque; sermons are principally held in German. Additional sermons may include languages of origin including Arabic. The mosque is truly international with timeless architecture, and is a place where women and men, children and adults, natives and guests can find a place for prayer, where the place can become an attractive interface for the different cultures.[2]

Museum

The museum centers on the early history of Islam in Europe, showing the connection between the past and the present. It is an ongoing project, always searching for new ideas and perspective on human culture and social existence. The museum aims to foster dialogue and communication, and to bring together artists from diverse cultural backgrounds. The museum thus encourages pluralistic perspectives.[2]

The museum hold that the European Renaissance was dependent upon the interaction between the Muslims, who made vast strides in the areas of science, arts, literature and music in the Middle Ages, and the Europeans. Thus the museum aims to have regular meetings of artists, concerts, film screenings, and workshops with the aim of finding new perspectives and opportunities for culture and communication, independent of religion, in an effort to explore commonalities in transnational thinking.[2]

Community centre

The community centre of MFI is a space for religious, cultural and social concerns and questions. The first objective is the cultural, social, and structural integration of the Muslim population. MFI wants to assist them by helping them to negotiate the different stages of life, support them and accompany them in social, educational, and religious ways. MFI considers itself as a kind of mediator between Muslims and non-Muslims in society. MFI wants to establish itself as an intercultural meeting place, where people of different generations, religions, and nations can meet and interact.[2]

Islam Academy

MFI views education as of central importance. The Islam Academy means to become a facility for basic and continued theological education for Imams religion teachers, chaplains and community leaders; It also intends to provide information about Islam for the general public. Primarily, though, the academy is a center of education for Imams. Through scientific discourse and research, the MFI will work on the development of an Islamic theology in Europe for the 21st century. The long-term goal of the academy is to realize a university level education for Imams. The academy is not just about books but about people with questions and concerns, which the academy believes is central to education. The academy houses a public multi-lingual library with books and media about Islam and other religions. The library also houses books on philosophy, culture, and history, particularly European, German, and Bavarian history.

Controversy

From 2007-2010 the mosque was under surveillance by German intelligence due to Benjamin Idriz’s contacts with radical Islamic groups. [4] In a 2007 cable to American diplomats, the Bavarian Interior Minister claimed that “Idriz plays two different pianos,” which means that Idriz presents himself as modern and progressive to his European audience members and as radical to foreign benefactors.[5]

In 2013 a lawsuit was filed by anti-mosque activists who were opposed to the construction of the mosque. Anti-mosque activists expressed fear that the Qatari government, who financed the mosque, was engaged in an effort to build Mosques all over Europe to spread Wahhabism, an extremely conservative interpretation of Islam. That year, the Bavarian government began spying on anti-mosque demonstrators under the auspices that they were engaging in potential anti-constitutional activities. But the government squashed the lawsuit in 2014 by affirming that it is in fact lawful for the government to spy on citizens who are opposed to the construction. In addition to this 2014 ruling, another court ordered an anti-mosque protester to pay a fine for defaming Islam by claiming that the religion is incompatible with democracy.[5]

While the anti-mosque activists gathered twice the number of signatures required to allow local citizens to determine the fate of the mosque, city officials refused a public referendum.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Please help to fund an Islamic Centre in Munich/DE". FundRazr. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "What is MFI?". Islam München. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
  3. ↑ "No Petrodollar Land Grabbing for Qatar in Brussels". stopterrorfinance.org. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
  4. ↑ "Bavaria seeks Qatar funding to build Dh180m mosque". The National. 2012-07-11. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Kern, Soeren (2014-10-28). "Germany: Silencing the Critics of Munich's Mega-Mosque". Gatestone Institute. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
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