BONN – Authorities in Germany have laid down new rules governing a Saudi-funded private school it was feared might be a magnet for extremists.

The rules will limit the use of the mosque on the premises for the general public and allow the school to be used only by children who will not be staying in Germany.

Cologne municipal authorities said the rules have been agreed by a supervisory German-Arab committee as a condition for allowing the school to remain open.

The committee will decide at its next meeting whether to allow the general public to use the mosque for Friday prayers.

Education officials had agreed to keep the school open last year after receiving assurances that fundamentalist Islamic activities would not be tolerated.

The school’s future had been questioned after police feared it was becoming a magnet for radical Islamists from all over Germany including individuals suspected of having contacts with terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda.

It had already been agreed that fundamentalist activities and all events out of school hours such as seminars and evening meetings would no longer be permitted. Prayer rooms are to be used solely by pupils and members of school staff.

DPA
Subject: German news