A mosque in Mannheim, linked to the Islamist Workers’ Association, faced backlash for offering a marriage preparatory course for girls as young as 13.
The course, which was set to begin in November, sparked massive protests, leading to its cancellation. The controversial flyer, now removed from social media, invited girls and women aged 13 and over to a “girls’ evening in the mosque,” promoting the notion that “whoever marries has completed half of his faith.”
The mosque, which operates under the Omar Al Faruq Center, has been under scrutiny by Germany’s constitution protection agency for its links to Salafism, a radical Islamic ideology. The center’s spokesperson, Khalil Khalil, claimed the event, organized by outside experts, was intended to protect young girls from the dangers of social media. However, he acknowledged that the flyer’s language was poorly chosen and quickly responded to the criticism.
The mosque, previously known for preaching Salafist views, has distanced itself from such ideas in recent years. From 2008 to 2017, the mosque was led by Imam Amen Dali, who was linked to Salafist beliefs and political activism. While he condemned terrorist acts, he advocated for a more conservative, outwardly religious form of Islam.
Local political leaders, including the CDU and the Greens, are seeking answers regarding the event. The CDU has called for further investigation during the next city council meeting in March 2025. Meanwhile, the mosque plans to expand to a new location in Mannheim’s Käfertal district due to space limitations at its current site.
