By IRNA,
Berlin : German universities are to offer Islamic studies as part of wider German government efforts to train Muslim religious teachers and clerics, Education Minister Annette Schavan told the press here Thursday.
The University of Tuebingen and the Universities of Muenster and Osnabrueck were selected out of five bidders in the first phase of the 16-million euro program to educate Islamic clergy and conduct theological research.
The first group of 400-500 students of the Islamic studies program are expected to attend classes in the winter semester of 2011, according to Schavan.
Experts say there is an immediate need of around 2000 German-trained Muslim clerics and religious teachers over the next years.
Two additional university venues will be chosen in the next stage in spring to 2011 to complete the Islamic studies program which will be evaluated after five years, Schavan said.
Critics of the government-funded Islamic studies program argue that the ultimate plan is to promote a ‘German or European-style Islam’ which is not compatible with the real Islamic teachings.