The Training of Imams and Teachers for Islamic Education in Europe

After 9/11 imams became central figures in the debate on Islam. Integrated imams trained in Europe were to promote Muslim integration, prevent violence, and further Islamic enlightenment. Due to the central role of imams in the lives of Muslims, their training is essential in the process of Muslim integration.

Following 9/11 and the growth of religiously legitimated violence in Islamic countries, the focus of public discussion moved to imams and teachers of religion as actors supporting Muslim isolation and the lack of willingness to integrate imams became central figures in the debate on Islam. With great enthusiasm, politicians discovered them to be the scapegoats of a failed integration of Muslims in Europe. Integrated imams trained in Europe were to promote Muslim integration, prevent violence, resolve contradictions between society and Muslims and further Islamic enlightenment. With this objective an attempt was made, on the one hand, to rediscover the existing institutions for imam training in Balkan states and, on the other hand, to establish new educational institutions at European universities to train Europe-compliant imams. Due to their central role in the lives of Muslims, the training of imams and teachers of religion is given an important role in the process of Muslim integration.

Auteur

Ednan Aslan is the Chair of Islamic Religious Education at the Department of Education at the University of Vienna. He is responsible for teachers' training in Islamic religious education and is chairperson of different working groups on the development of curricula in Germany, Austria, and Southeast Europe. He has published intensively on Islamic religious education in Europe. Zsófia Windisch is a PhD candidate and works as the study assistant of Islamic Religious Education at the University of Vienna's Department of Education. She has studied in the UK, Hungary and Turkey, and graduated in International Relations. She also holds a master's degree in International Economic Relations. Her research interests are European Islam, transnational religious movements, and the education of Muslim religious minorities.

Contenu
Contents: Ednan Aslan: Training of Imams and Teachers in Europe Enes Kari: Higher Educational Institutions in the Balkans which Educate Imams and Religious Teachers (Overview from 1990-Present) Jørgen S. Nielsen: Reflections on the Role and Training of Imams and Islamic Teachers for Europe Qazim Qazimi: Religious Identity and Globalism Bayram Karci/Elton Karaj: Religious Education in Albania. The Case of the Tirana Haxi Hamud Dashi Madrasah from 19241964 and 1991 onward Vahidin Beluli: Methods of Professional Advancement for Imams and Islamic Studies Teachers in Austria Mustafa Hasani: The Status of Imams in Bosnia and Herzegovina Sefer Hasanov: Training Imams and Religious Teachers in Bulgaria Aziz Hasanovi: Spiritual and Professional Profile of Imams in the 21st Century in Europe Samim Akgönül: The Debate on Imams and Imam Training in France Ibrahim Serif: The Legal Status of the Muslim Turkish Minority of Western Thrace Xhabir Hamiti: The Status of the Imam and His Position in the Past and Present. With a Focus on Albanian Territories Muhamed Ali: Islamic Education in Macedonia: The Case of the Isa Beg Madresa and the Faculty of Islamic Sciences Omer Halil Kajoshaj: Dawah in the Changing World. New Challenges to the Work of Imams Johan Meuleman: Educating for an Old Profession in a New Context. The Imam Training Programme of Inholland University, the Netherlands Mircea Botescu: The European Dobrudjan Islam. A Curricular Perspective on the Education of Imams in Romania Damir Shagaviev: Training and Retraining of Imams in Russia (An Example of Tatarstan) Juan Ferreiro Galguera: Training Centres for Imams in Spain Rehan Neziri: The Training of Imams and Islamic Education Teachers in Switzerland. Between Real Local Needs and Imported Fear Abdullah Sahin: Rethinking the Meaning of Being Islamicly Educated in a Secular Context. Reflections on the Future of Teacher and Imam Training within the British Muslim Communities Z. eyma Arslan: Training of Imams and Teachers for Islamic Education in Turkey Hasan Ali Yurtsever: The Role and Training of Imams and Muslim Chaplains in the U.S.A. Eileen M. Daily: Formation of Catholic Religious Educators in the United States Sabine Hermisson/Martin Rothgangel: «Spiritual Competence»: Research Project on a New Key Term in Protestant Training for Ministry Kevser Muratovic: The Relationship Between Imams and Adolescents. Do Imams Have to Show Pedagogical Skills in order to be a Contact Person for Young Muslims with Everyday Issues and Problems? Ilire Halimi Poniku: Implementation of Educational Standards. An Opportunity for the Advancement of Islamic Education in Kosovo Jeton Mehmeti: Imams in Western Societies. Why Communication Skills Matter as much as Knowledge.