Hessen: State Islam lessons in schools is permitted

State Islam lessons at Hessian schools can continue to be offered. It is a non -religious lesson that is compatible with the state neutrality requirement, as the Wiesbaden Administrative Court announced on Tuesday. The Turkish Mosque Association Ditib failed with its complaint.

There are two offers for Islam lessons in Hesse. On the one hand, there is a commitment -oriented Islam lesson, which is offered in cooperation with Ditib as a decent subject in Hessian schools. Since the 2019/2020 school year, an exclusively state -organized Islam class has been offered, which is designed without cooperation with Ditib or another Islamic religious community.

Both offers are aimed at pupils who do not take part in religious education from other religious communities or ethics lessons. Ditib complained to underlight against purely state Islam lessons. The court now dismissed the lawsuit.

The judge decided that the state -organized Islam lessons are not a commitment -oriented religious education. He does not violate the fundamental right of religious communities to grant religious instruction in accordance with their principles.

The court does not see any evidence that state lessons are a competitive offer for the religious education of Ditib and whose religious instruction is inadmissible. For example, state -organized Islam lessons do not mean that teachers are no longer available for confession -oriented teaching. Appointment has already been made against the judgment.