Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office Cornelia Pieper expects the German Islam Conference to make further progress on the integration of Muslims into German society.

The Minister of State issued the following statement today (17 May) in Berlin:

“The integration of immigrants is best achieved through education. That is why we must remain committed to our target of more investment in education.

I welcome the proposals put forward by the German Council of Science and Humanities – which will be presented during the plenary session of the German Islam Conference today – for the establishment of chairs in Islamic theology at state universities in Germany. These chairs provide the basis for well-trained teachers of religion and religious staff at the mosques.

I’m also delighted to see committed and dedicated women represented at the Islam Conference. In my view they provide the best guarantee that the topic of gender equality will be given the priority it needs during the consultations so that prospects for Muslim girls and women can improve.

I expect that those who have stayed away from today’s Islam Conference will return in the future to take part in the national dialogue with Muslims. Only those who sit down with us at the same table can be involved in shaping the future.”