Islam Week scandal: anti-Semitism and gender segregation at the CAU!

Islam Week scandal: anti-Semitism and gender segregation at the CAU!

Last Thursday, the education committee of the Schleswig-Holstein state parliament adopted the controversial one at the request of the FDP parliamentary group Islam week at the Christian Albrechts University (CAU) in Kiel. The event, organized by the Islamic University Community (IHG) in early May, is at the center of a heated debate about anti-Semitism and misogynistic statements.

According to reports, there were numerous complaints about incidents during the week, including the presence of constitutionally questionable speakers and gender-segregated seating arrangements. Interior Minister Sabine Sütterlin-Waack (CDU) confirmed that some of the invited speakers, including a speaker classified as Salafist, are controversial. The IHG has also distanced itself from this speaker, but the group's image remains tarnished because the Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies it as “not free from Salafist influence.”

Events during Islam Week

The allegations are varied. In addition to anti-Semitic stickers that were discovered on an audience's laptops, a speaker who made statements about acts of violence against women caused a stir. He explained that the Quranic verse about “beating wives” should not be taken literally - a relativization that is met with strong rejection in today's society. At this point, reference is also made to gender segregation; While the IHG described this as optional, social media announced a mandatory regulation. Eyewitnesses also reported separate entrances for men and women and a seating arrangement in which women were placed at the back and men at the front.

Professor Catherine Cleophas, Vice President for Digital Transformation, Equality and Diversity, explained that IHG was not solely responsible for organizing the week. The CAU Executive Board is currently examining the allegations and has temporarily suspended recognition of IHG with regard to its room booking options. It remains to be seen what consequences this will have for the university group.

Reactions from politics

Politically, the situation is perceived as alarming. Prime Minister Daniel Günther (CDU) has called for the matter to be clarified quickly and emphasized that anti-Semitic messages and gender segregation have no place in educational institutions. Critics also accuse the CAU of having ignored previous warnings from the Office for the Protection of the Constitution about the questionable speaker. The university would only receive information about this after the event.

Amid these controversies, it is clear that a comprehensive discourse about values, gender roles and, last but not least, how to deal with extremism is needed at the CAU. Given the current discrepancy between what has been reported and what IHG presents as reality, it will be interesting to see how the situation evolves. The university has announced that it will review its procedures for approving events and remains under pressure in this situation.