Berlin University Hospital
Charité in criticism: religious gender separation in the lecture hall?
The Berlin Charité is considered the leading university clinic in Europe for top medicine and research. But a religious event with gender separation raises questions.
This article was first published by RTL.
The summer semester 2025 started a few weeks ago. For numerous students, lectures, seminars and courses started again – also at the Berlin Charité. However, there were apparently lessons and lectures in the Koran and gender separation for some medical students, as reported, among other things, the Berliner Zeitung. An Instagram video of the Muslim student group “Medislam Collective” (MSC for short) is intended to show how students sit separately. Men on the left, women on the right. The controversial online portal “Apollo News” first reported about it.
It is unclear why and whether gender segregation in the lecture hall happened voluntarily. The Muslim student group has no public position. Under an Instagram post, however, the event says: “We started the new semester together with a contemplative Koran recitation, exciting insights into the history and vision of the MSC-perfect for all new faces to arrive directly and to feel directly.” The post is ended with “The semester can come – we look forward to everything that is still due, in Sha Allah” – in German: “So God wants” or “if God wants”.
Just a few weeks ago, a similar incident at the University of Kiel caused criticism. Eyewitnesses are said to have reported that men were allowed to sit in the front during an action week while the women should sit back together. This is said to have irritated students on site. Now the state parliament deals with it. It is currently still unclear whether this is also threatening in Berlin.
Against the values of the Berlin Charité? Clinic checks incident
However, the Berlin Charité takes the incident very seriously, it is quoted in the Berliner Zeitung. “We check whether the principles of the Charité have been disregarded. If such an event have taken place, it would be diametrically opposed to the values of the Charité.” However, the Charité spokesman also emphasizes: “It is not an official events as part of the training of doctors.” Instead, it is “self -organized events for which rooms were made available in individual cases.”
“The Charité promotes equality between women and men. This forms a central aspect of cooperation in the university community,” it continues. “A corresponding code also applies to the student representative.” Compliance with this code is a prerequisite for events at the Charité and the associated premises. “
Not the first time! Muslim student group with further incidents
According to media reports, however, there were also differences between male and female students in the past. “Medislam Collective” on Instagram advertises a “brothers Activity Day” and an “activity day for sisters”. While there is said to have been a table tennis tournament, volleyball and a quiz at the event for men, the “Activity Day for Sisters” have a picnic and, according to Berliner Zeitung, a calligraphy workshop. (Jow)
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Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
