The “Islamic Charter” was presented in Berlin on 20 February. In this document the Central Council of the Moslems in Germany describes the relation to be maintained with the State and with German society. On 3 February the assembly of Islamic representatives expressed itself in favour of the document, which is aimed at “setting out its clear position” on such fundamental problems as the state of law, the Constitution, democracy, pluralism, the position of women, religious diversity and human rights, and “making a contribution to the objectivity of the political and social debate”. The document hopes to “make an important contribution to dialogue within the Islamic community in Germany and to provide an aid to public opinion”. The Council of Moslems awaits “from politicians and society” a positive and constructive approach to the 3.2 million Moslems living in Germany, so that the document declares “a response may be given to such important challenges as the teaching of Islamic religion in German or the inner-city building of mosques”. The “declaration of principle of the Central Council of Moslems in Germany on the relation of Moslems with the state and society” is divided into 21 points each introduced by a motto and explanatory comment beginning from the proposition that “Islam is the religion of peace” (no. 1) and ending with the proposition that Moslems are “politically neutral” (no. 21). The document reaffirms “the acceptance of the fundamental democratic order, and of the state of law guaranteed by the Constitution. It also examines the problem of how to achieve integration in German society while at the same time “maintaining an Islamic identity” and “a dignified Moslem lifestyle in society in full respect for the Constitution and the current law. It calls for Islamic rights to be respected in compliance with the constitutional and legal provisions, including the introduction of the teaching of Islamic religion in German in schools, the institution of chairs for the formation of imans, the inter-city construction of mosques and the permission to pray at fixed hours.
