Objectives ,
The fundamental and overarching aim of the German Islam Conference (DIK) is to maintain a regular and ongoing dialogue between all levels of government on the one hand and Muslims and their representatives in Germany on the other. No institutionalised dialogue of this kind existed until the Conference was founded in 2006.
The aim of the ongoing dialogue in the Conference is to seek understanding on specific issues and find solutions for problems that arise in daily life, for example related to Islamic religious instruction at public schools, the teaching of Islamic theology at universities, Muslim social welfare and chaplaincy, the building of mosques, and the prevention of anti-Muslim hostility and of Islamist extremism motivated by religion. The discussions and consultations have yielded recommendations, guidelines and informational publications, among other things.
Another aim of the Conference is to increase knowledge about Muslim life in Germany and improve the available data. For this reason, surveys were conducted and studies published under the auspices of the Conference, including Muslimisches Leben in Deutschland (Muslim life in Germany, MLD 2020), Islamisches Gemeindeleben in Deutschland (Islamic congregations in Germany, IGLD 2012) and Wie viele Muslime leben in Deutschland? (How many Muslims are living in Germany? 2016).
The overarching policy aim that the Federal Government is pursuing by means of the Conference is to promote an Islam which is firmly rooted in Germany. This means that Muslims should be able to develop stronger ties to the reality of life in Germany; Muslims should be able to feel more accepted as part of society; and more visible progress should be made on integrating Muslim communities in legal terms into the cooperative relations between religious organisations and the state in Germany.
The aim is an Islam of German Muslims: an Islam in, from and for Germany. Through the Conference, the Federal Government and the other participants seek to strengthen social cohesion – also in view of the fact that recent immigration has made Muslim life in Germany more diverse and that interaction among Muslims and between Muslims and non-Muslims is facing familiar and new challenges.