Interior Ministry queries collaborative efforts with Ditib

In a recent turn of events, the German government has expressed concerns about its cooperation with DITIB, a state-funded Turkish Islamic Union, following controversial statements made by Ali Erbas, the president of the Diyanet authority.

At a conference held in Istanbul at the end of August, around 150 Islamic clerics, including Erbas, called for a boycott of Israel and a "global jihad". In his speech, Erbas accused the "Zionist regime" of committing "complete genocide" in Gaza and endorsed armed resistance against Israel. He also called for boycotts of goods from the "Zionist occupiers".

These statements have caused German officials to condemn Erbas's words and question cooperation with organizations linked to him. The Federal Ministry of the Interior has stated that these statements may raise concerns about DITIB's commitment to the values of the German Basic Law, which includes a clear rejection of anti-Semitism and Islamism.

The training of DITIB imams in Germany, a shift from sending imams from Turkey, was initiated in 2023 as part of an agreement reached between the German government and Diyanet. Since then, the federal government has been funding the training with 465,000 euros. However, the Ministry finds structural and personnel ties of DITIB to the Turkish religious authority Diyanet problematic.

The Ministry expects its cooperation partners to clearly distance themselves from organizations and individuals spreading anti-Semitic narratives and pursuing or supporting Islamist goals. So far, the statements made by Erbas at the conference have not been publicly condemned by DITIB.

The Ministry's doubts about the effectiveness of cooperation between the German government and DITIB extend to possible cooperations with associations and clubs. The suitability of DITIB as a cooperation partner has also been questioned in light of the statements made at the Istanbul conference.

It is important to note that DITIB, with hundreds of mosques throughout Germany, is subordinate to the Diyanet authority. The training of DITIB imams in Germany is ongoing, as per the agreement reached in 2023, with the intention of having a more lasting effect on integration compared to Diyanet imams.

This development comes amidst ongoing discussions about the role of Islamic institutions in Germany and their adherence to German values. The German government will likely continue to monitor the situation closely and assess the future of its cooperation with DITIB in light of these recent events.