Germany’s largest Islamic association, Ditib, is currently deploying heavy artillery against critics. In a detailed press release, the Cologne-based mosque association threatened the newspaper Die Welt with legal action unless it distances itself from a recently published commentary and takes unspecified consequences. The association claimed the article exceeded all limits of permissible expression and exemplified hate speech and minority discrimination.
Journalists’ inquiries seeking clarification on how the commentary crossed legal boundaries have so far gone unanswered by Ditib. A spokesperson for Die Welt refrained from commenting on the accusations, emphasizing that the article is an explicitly labeled opinion piece.
The contentious commentary criticized both Ditib and German politicians who attended Ditib’s 40th-anniversary celebration. The journalist admonished Nathanael Liminski, head of the Düsseldorf State Chancellery, stating that attending the celebration of one’s adversary is inappropriate. The journalist argued that any constitutionally loyal German democrat would view Ditib as a political enemy due to its dependence on Türkiye’s autocratic leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and its alignment with Erdoganism—an ideology combining Islamism, Turkish nationalism, and antisemitism.
Liminski, a close ally of Christian Democratic premier Hendrik Wüst, had attended the event and delivered a congratulatory speech, praising Ditib’s efforts in fulfilling its social responsibilities. He cited the shift in imam training as evidence of Ditib’s commitment to societal cohesion, as imams trained in Germany are set to gradually replace those sent from Türkiye under a 2023 bilateral agreement.
German authorities aim to reduce Turkish influence over Ditib by phasing out imams tied to Türkiye’s state-run religious authority, Diyanet. Critics, however, including the Die Welt commentator, argue that these reforms stemmed from German pressure, threatening to halt Turkish imam dispatches.
While Liminski voiced commendation, he also criticized Ditib for instances of antisemitism, minority oppression, and political interference, referencing allegations that Ditib imams surveilled community members on behalf of Ankara or promoted Erdogan’s agenda. For example, Ditib mosques prayed for Türkiye’s military victory in Syria in 2018.
Liminski questioned Ditib’s deep connections to Türkiye, particularly when these transcend religious activities and veer into political influence. He called on Ditib to focus solely on its religious and social mission in Germany. This shift, he argued, is crucial for Ditib’s recognition as a public-law corporation, granting significant privileges. For now, Ditib remains a registered association, albeit one strongly embedded in regions like North Rhine-Westphalia, home to many Turkish migrants.
Recent controversies further strained Ditib’s collaborations, especially after anti-Israel comments by Diyanet officials during the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. The North Rhine-Westphalian Ditib branch reaffirmed Israel’s right to exist, easing tensions and preserving their partnership on Islamic religious education in public schools.
