Female Imams in Germany
October 7, 2006
When Amina Wadud, professor of Islamic studies at the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, led a Friday prayer for Muslims of both genders in New York last year, conservative Muslims from around the world responded with outrage and religious leaders in Egypt and Saudi Arabia even spoke of an American conspiracy.
Supporting Wadud's action was a violation of god's law, said grand mufti sheikh Abdelaziz al-Sheikh. After all, she is a woman.
In secular Turkey, and in the mosques in Germany that are indirectly controlled by the Turkish state, female imams are already in place. As religious leaders, they preach and pray -- but only with other women.
More female imams to be sent from Turkey
"The congregations have been very pleased" with the female imams, said Ridvan Cakir, chairman of the Turkish-Islamic Union in Germany (DITIB). There have only been 13 so far, but the number is expected to increase.
"Practically all of our mosques have started asking us for females imams," Cakir said. "Some also ask for male imams whose wives are also preachers. Then they can take care of the women in the congregation while their husbands work with the men."
More than 2.5 million people of Turkish origin live in Germany today, according to the state department. There are around 3,000 mosques in the country, which serve the 3.5 million Muslims living in Germany, many of whom are Turkish.
Cakir explained that it is common for the state-run religious council in Turkey, the Diyanet, to send female staff members to Germany for one or two years to work in a mosque -- and these women are in high demand.
Women also eligible for "enlightenment"
"In the past, women sat at home, didn't go to school, have a job or earn any money," said Beyza Bilgin, a Turkish religion expert. "But according to Islam, all people should become enlightened, acquire knowledge, learn and be educated, regardless of gender."
Even if many moderates agree that the genders are fundamentally equal, some skepticism remains as to whether women should be given religious leadership positions.
"Muslims, especially the men, don't really like to be taught by a woman, let alone led in prayer by one," said Felix Hörner, the head priest at the Catholic church in Ankara. "But the Catholics could be accused of having a similar problem."
Some Catholics have similar difficulty with women leaders
Hörner instructs the Germany-bound imams about religion in his country and advises them to contact Christian churches when they arrive. For him, it is a positive step that the Diyanet is increasingly entrusting women with religious responsibilities.
"These imams are mainly sent from Turkey to work with Turkish women living in Germany," he said. "They can reach circles that a male imam in Germany never could. I think that the female imams are able to convey the potential for enlightenment in a very credible way."