Germany: Bavaria listens to its 700,000 Muslim citizens

In the austere premises of the Bavarian Interior Ministry, a historic conference was held yesterday, bringing together political leaders and Muslim representatives. This meeting takes place in a tense context, marked by recent criticism from the imam of Penzberg, Benjamin Idriz, concerning the lack of commitment of the authorities towards the Muslim community.

“Are our fellow Muslims really at home in Bavaria?” This question, at the heart of the debates, particularly resonates in a region where 700,000 Muslims, or 6% of the population, are still looking for their place. Stefan Zinsmeister, of the Eugen-Biser Foundation, recalls that even third-generation Muslims are regularly asked “where they really come from”.

Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann struck a conciliatory tone: “The real question is not whether Islam belongs in Bavaria, but whether we recognize that our fellow Muslim citizens, many of whom have been here for decades, are integral part of our society.”

A concrete initiative is already emerging: the project for the documentation of Bavarian Muslim traditions by the Regional Association for Heritage Preservation. “After more than a century of Muslim presence in Bavaria, it is time to integrate this heritage into our common heritage,” explains Rudolf Neumaier, its representative.

However, challenges persist. Ayten Kilicarslan, from the Muslim Women’s Social Service, asks: “How many more generations will it take before we are no longer perceived as foreigners?” A question which highlights the road remaining to be taken towards successful integration.

This Bavarian initiative is part of a broader context of transformation of relations between the German state and its Muslim communities. If the Nuremberg approach testifies to a political desire for appeasement, it also reveals the contradictions of a regional society divided between Christian tradition and multicultural reality. The challenge now goes beyond the simple framework of integration: it is a question of redefining a modern Bavarian identity, capable of integrating its religious diversity without denying its roots. A challenge that could become a model in other German Länder faced with similar questions.