Berlin Mayor Proposes Islamic Studies in Schools After Terror Attack at LGBTQ+ March

Berlin's governing mayor, Kai Wegner, has proposed introducing Islamic religious education in Germany's state schools as a way to prevent the radicalization of young Muslims. The initiative comes in response to Saturday's terror attack in Berlin's Tiergarten park, which took place during a rally in support of LGBTQ+ rights.

According to Wegner, "young people are being radicalized in so-called garage mosques" — informal prayer spaces operating outside government oversight. Religious education teachers at state schools, the mayor noted, are subject to state supervision and "could play a significant role in protecting young people from such influence." At the same time, he called for tougher measures against problematic mosques: "We need to increase pressure and oversight on radical mosques and shut them down."

Bülent Ucar, an Islam expert at the University of Osnabrück, is skeptical that the attack will shift attitudes within the Muslim community. He noted that rejection of homosexuality is widespread among Muslims and aligns with the position of all major schools of Islamic thought. Mahmoud Jaraba of the University of Erlangen and other experts share this view, warning that radicalization among young people could actually intensify in the future.

The attack occurred around 10 p.m. on Saturday in Berlin's central Tiergarten park, where an LGBTQ+ solidarity rally was underway at the time. A van drove into the crowd, after which the driver attacked bystanders with a machete. One woman was killed and 31 other people were injured. The attacker was identified as Abdul Ballut, a 21-year-old German citizen of Lebanese descent. Police say a video was found on his phone showing him pledging allegiance to the terrorist organization Islamic State (ISIS).

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz