ABSTRACT
Muslims in Germany Like many other European countries, Germany has long been a destination for immigrants, even if this may not be the accepted view in official German politics. Considering the fact that of the 82 million people living in Germany, over 15 million have a background of migration, this is something that can no longer be denied. It means that almost one-fifth of the German population comes from abroad or has parents or grandparents who originally came here as immigrants (cf. Statistisches Bundesamt 2006). In the large towns of western Germany, for example Hamburg, children and adolescents with a migration background already make up 50 per cent of young age groups (Stadt Hamburg 2006). Among these are some 3.5 to four million Muslims, the majority of whom are of Turkish origin (52 per cent). Besides the Turkish Muslims living in Germany, there are
also Muslims from ex-Yugoslavia (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Iran, Morocco and Afghanistan. The largest faith group among the Muslims, in terms of numbers, is that of the Sunnis, who make up 80 per cent of all Muslims in Germany, followed by the Alevites and the Shiites (17 per cent and 3 per cent respectively) (Bundesministerium des Innern 2006). Observable in recent years among some of the Turkish economic migrants has been a strong resurgence of interest in religion and in the culture and traditions of their country of origin (Gesemann 2006: 9-10). By contrast, there are also groups that can be considered religiously indifferent and these have come to resemble German mainstream society as far as educational levels, career and way of life are concerned (Gesemann 2006: 8-9).
