Excitement at the CAU: Islam Week leads to drastic consequences!

Excitement at the CAU: Islam Week leads to drastic consequences!

Last week, from June 22nd to 27th, there was a lot to report in Kiel. The Christian Albrechts University (CAU) is currently in focus after it has to repeat the selection process for the post of president due to a ruling by the Schleswig Administrative Court. This causes excitement among students and teachers.
Last week started comparatively quietly with the start of the Kiel Week, where the police only recorded 23 reports - a significant decrease compared to the previous year, in which almost twice as many incidents occurred.

On Monday, a new student and boarding house was opened on Wilhelmplatz, offering 36 apartments. Here a one-room apartment costs up to 990 euros; a price that corresponds to the maximum rate for student loans and is justified by high construction and planning costs of around 4,000 euros per square meter.
On Tuesday, the CAU took a surprising turn when it announced that it would repeat the selection process for the presidential post, following a ruling by the Schleswig Administrative Court. The incidents were already discussed on Thursday at the student-organized Islam Week, which took place in May.

Dispute over Islam Week

The Islam Week, organized by the Islamic University Group Kiel (IHG), caused great excitement, especially due to the gender separation during the events. According to reports, men sat in the front and women in the back, which drew criticism from many. The IHG speaker, Sertac Odabas from the “Iman” organization, is associated with Salafism, which also led to discussions on the topics offered in the program. Vice President Catherine Cleophas made it clear that Salafist messages and gender segregation are inconsistent with the university's values ​​and called for a full investigation into the allegations.
The IHG itself characterized the separate entrances for women and men as a “voluntary offer”, but many in the student body were not convinced.

The issue became particularly loud on Thursday when Prime Minister Daniel Günther called for a quick clarification and described the incidents as “unbearable”. The university group has now announced that it will make a statement, although this was not yet available at the time of going to print. The CAU is also planning a discussion with the IHG and will review the university group guidelines.

Looking into the future

Several trials are on the agenda in Kiel for the future, including against a young man for homicide. This crime took place on Norddeutsche Straße in September last year. In addition, a referendum is being prepared on Kiel's application for the sailing competitions at the Olympic Games, a plan that Mayor Ulf Kampf is pushing forward. Possible dates for this would be November 16, 2025 or May 31, 2026.
There are other developments beyond the university: Schleswig-Holstein plans to sell its casinos, including the casino in Kiel, by 2026. The Verdi union and the state office for addiction issues have already raised concerns about player protection and working conditions.

Amidst this multitude of topics, the university council discussion about gender diversity is also becoming louder. According to the recommendations of the Federal Conference of Women and Equal Opportunities Representatives at Universities, educational institutions have the responsibility to create non-discriminatory conditions for all genders and to promote gender self-determination. Such recommendations are becoming increasingly important in times like these, especially in view of the changing social conditions.