Germany: Islamic institutes in German universities?

As the Institut Catholique in Paris has been doing since 2007, the German universities may soon be creating a course dedicated to the training of imams and Islamic teachers. According to the German Council of Science and Humanities, an advisory body who draws up recommendations for the government on scientific matters, these «two or three Islamic institutes» would require around 2000 teachers to be able to offer Islamic religion classes to Germany’s 700,000 or so Muslim children. The idea has already sparked great enthusiasm among the political class. The proposal would aid the progress of a «modern integration policy», said the German Minister for Education and Research, Annette Schavan. She intends to fully back the project and see it brought into action, promising financial support from the State. (Centre for Information and documentation on Germany. DICI no. 209)