A government-sponsored conference on Islam in Germany started on Monday, but it convened without two major organizations that represent the country's Muslims.

The conference brings together politicians and representatives of the Muslim community to discuss integration. There are an estimated 3.8 million to 4.2 million Muslims living in Germany, the majority of whom have Turkish roots. About half of them are German citizens.

The conference includes 17 state representatives and 17 individuals and groups from the Muslim community. But only two of the country's four largest Muslim umbrella groups were to be at the table - the Turkish Islamic Union, Ditib, and the Union of Islamic Cultural Centers.

Inclusion and exclusion

The Central Council of Muslims in Germany (ZMD), which represents an alliance of Sunni mosques throughout Germany, said on last week that it would boycott the meeting. Axel Ayyub Koehler, the organization's leader, said that the conference "is not sufficient to solve the urgent social problems and concerns that have arisen between Muslims, politicians, and the population."

Koehler said the conference needs to include discussions about "Islamophobia" and discrimination against Muslims on its agenda.

The Interior Ministry has said that the conference would focus on gender equality, preventing the rise of extremism, and the introduction of Islamic religion classes in schools. German students in public schools can choose to take courses in Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish or, as part of an ongoing pilot program, Muslim studies.

In March, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said he would exclude another organization, the Islam Council, from the talks. Leaders of one of the dominant groups in that council, Milli Gorus, are under investigation for tax fraud and misuse of funds, and it has been accused of supporting a fundamentalist brand of Islam.

A 'mere tea party?'

The conference was founded in 2006 by then-Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble as a way to promote dialogue about integration. But its critics say it has failed to produce any concrete policy changes or clear directions for Muslims to follow regarding integration.

Green Party Co-chairman Cem Oezdemir told Germany's epd news agency on Sunday that the body risked becoming a "mere tea party." He stressed that it should be aiming for full participation of Muslims in society, with all the rights and obligations that others have.

"We need a road map with concrete requirements that Muslim organizations must fulfill in order to obtain recognition as a religious community," Oezdemir said.

svs/dpa/AFP/KNA/epd
Editor: Chuck Penfold