State-financed Islamic education in schools is lawful in Hesse region - Decision on Islamic Education in Hesse: State Approval Granted
In a recent decision, the Wiesbaden Administrative Court ruled that state-run Islamic instruction can continue to be part of the school curriculum in Hesse[1]. This decision comes amidst an ongoing dispute between the Hesse government and the Turkish Mosque Association Ditib (Diyanet İşleri Türk İslam Birliği).
Despite the controversy surrounding Ditib's role in religious education and its influence in German schools, the court's ruling suggests that state-supported Islamic instructional programs, whether involving Ditib or other providers, are legally permitted to continue for now[1].
The state-organized Islamic education in Hessian schools is separate from the confessional Islamic education offered in cooperation with Ditib. Since the 2019/2020 school year, an exclusively state-organized Islamic education has also been offered, designed without cooperation with Ditib or any other Islamic religious community.
This non-religious course adheres to the state's neutrality requirement, ensuring it does not violate the right of religious communities to provide religious education in accordance with their principles[1]. The Islamic education offered in Hessian schools is available to students who do not participate in religious education of other religious communities or ethics classes.
The state-organized Islamic education in Hessian schools is a subject that is offered in cooperation with the Turkish Mosque Association Ditib in some cases, but it is not a competitive offer to Ditib's religious education and does not unjustly impair it[1].
It is important to note that the specific details of the dispute with Ditib are not present in the provided search results. However, historically, concerns have been raised about foreign influence in Islamic education.
The Administrative Court of Wiesbaden has ruled that state-sponsored Islamic education can continue in Hessian schools. This ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by Ditib, which was dismissed by the court.
In summary, state-run Islamic instruction in Hesse schools is allowed to continue as of August 2025 by court ruling. The state-organized Islamic education is separate from the confessional Islamic education offered in cooperation with Ditib, and it does not violate the right of religious communities to provide religious education in accordance with their principles.
[1] Source: Wiesbaden Administrative Court ruling, August 2025.
- In light of the Wiesbaden Administrative Court's ruling from August 2025, Community law within education-and-self-development context in Hesse allows for continued state-run Islamic instruction, while ensuring general news regarding politics maintains the state's neutrality requirement.
- Despite the ongoing dispute between the Hesse government and the Turkish Mosque Association Ditib regarding politics, the court's decision emphasizes that Community law permits state-supported Islamic instructional programs, regardless of the provider, to proceed while adhering to the principles of the involved religious communities.
