A German state grants Muslims two public holidays.
Schleswig-Holstein agrees with an Islamic association that students, civil servants and workers may take a day off for Ramadan and for the Feast of the Lamb.
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The government of Schleswig-Holstein has signed an agreement with the Association of Islamic Cultural Centres of Northern Germany that will allow Muslims to be absent from work, school or public functions on two religious datesthe first day of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha, the well-known Feast of Sacrifice, according to the newspaper. The World and other means.
With this pact, the state government intends to give a Secure legal framework to a practice that already existed, albeit only partially. It is also specified that The contract reinforces the Muslim association's right to operate educational and cultural institutions and even to train imams..
What does the agreement say about granting Muslims public holidays?
According to the agreement, the First day of Ramadan and the First day of Eid al-Adha will be officially recognised as Islamic holidays. This means that, from now on, officials and students They will be able to be absent from work or classes on these dates., in accordance with the Sunday and Public Holiday Act and the current School Act in Schleswig-Holstein.
The pact is not limited to granting days off: andIt also includes institutional and legal support for the cultural and educational activities of the signatory association., as well as the possibility of fostering qualified religious teachers and the gradual introduction of the teaching of the Islamic religion in schools.
Who is the VIKZ association?
The Association of Islamic Cultural Centres (VIKZ), or Association of Islamic Cultural Centres, is one of the oldest and most established Muslim organisations in Germany. It was founded in 1973 by members of the brotherhood. Suleymanci, a religious movement of Turkish origin centred on the education and study of the Qur'an.
VIKZ manages hundreds of mosques and educational centres across the country and places a strong emphasis on the religious formation and community life. Unlike other German Islamic federations, VIKZ maintains its own independent structure and is not part of the Central Council of Muslims or the DITIB federation, which is directly linked to the Turkish government.
In the case of Schleswig-Holstein, the VIKZ brings together various local communities and acts as a point of contact with the public authorities. According to the explanation Not done reading, The agreement signed with the state government formally establishes this role, granting the association an institutional recognition that until now had only been partial.
Criticism of VIKZ for being conservative Islam
Despite its long history, the VIKZ is not free from controversy. Several experts on Islam, including the Islamic scholar Susanne Schröter, point out that The association has a distinctly conservative profile, centred primarily on the transmission of traditional values and on classical religious education.. According to Schröter, this approach does not reflect the plurality of voices coexisting within Islam in Germany, where moderate and liberal currents are also sidelined.
Critics point out that the agreement signed in Schleswig-Holstein It grants institutional legitimacy to a single branch of Islam and, in turn, reinforces its influence in the educational and cultural spheres.. This is causing concern among academic and social sectors that call for a more diverse representation of the Muslim community. They fear that, by cementing exclusive agreements with conservative organisations, other religious expressions will be marginalised and a biased message sent about what it means to be Muslim in Germany.
The Minister defends the agreement as a sign of equality.
The Minister of Culture and Education of Schleswig-Holstein, Dorit Stenke (CDU), stressed that the agreement with the VIKZ is “an important sign of recognition and equality of treatment between religious communities”In statements reported by the German press, Stenke insisted that People of the Muslim faith “are part of our society” and that the government wants to send a clear message of respect for religious diversity..
The regional executive argues that this pact not only regulates the right to be absent on religious holidays, but also contributes to strengthening social cohesion and to establish clear rules in the relationship between the State and Muslim communities. According to the minister, the formalisation of these practices allows progress towards a more balanced coexistence, in which all faiths receive appropriate recognition within the German constitutional framework.
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