20 September 2007

Bonn, Germany (dpa) - Imams trained abroad but working in Germany should attend the integration courses set up for foreigners, the integration commissioners of the 16 German states said.

In the longer term "training imams in Germany is essential," the commissioners said after meeting in Bonn, noting that Islam was now a "fixed part of German society."

Even if imams had no intention of remaining permanently in Germany they should still undergo the course, aimed at helping immigrants communicate in German and comprehend German society, the commissioners said.

The names of imams engaged in promoting hatred should be made public, the integration commissioner for North Rhine-Westphalia, Thomas Kufen, said.

"Those who undermine our values need to be reported," he said.

The commissioners called for closer cooperation between state institutions and Muslim organizations.

There are some 800 imams of Turkish origin in Germany, ministering to around 3 million Muslims in a population of 82 million. Most of the imams remain in Germany for around four years.

The September 4 arrests of three suspected Islamist terrorists - two German converts to Islam and a Turk - has revived the long- running debate in Germany on integrating the large Muslim minority, most of them Turkish.

The suspects are alleged to have planned bombing attacks on US citizens in Germany that would have dwarfed the London and Madrid attacks.

DPA

Subject: German news