[Domestic Policy] #DITIB, its Allies and the Observation by the Domestic Intelligence Service 2020-05-02

DITIB is the largest Islamic organization in Germany and maintains about 900 clubs and mosques in Germany. DITIB is subordinate to the Turkish Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet Isleri Baskanligi). The imams sent from Turkey to DITIB are thus de facto civil servants of the Turkish state. Due to various controversies DITIB was repeatedly considered by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution/domestic intelligence agency (Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz). So far however this never happened. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Politicians in Germany regularly criticize Diyanet and DITIB for their wrongdoings. Cem Özdemir (The Green-Party) considers Diyanet and DITIB to be the extended arm of the Turkish state. Joachim Herrmann (CSU) said as Bavarian Interior Minister that sending the imams was not acceptable. According to Herrmann (CSU) training should not be done by Turkey but must lie in the hands of the federal states responsible for education and culture in Germany. And Andreas Scheuer (CSU) said as Secretary General of the CSU that the proximity of DITIB to Erdogan (AKP) is known and more than questionable. According to Scheuer (CSU) Turkey is moving further and further away from the basic values of enlightened Europe. [6]

The Left Party in Germany criticizes DITIB and also accuses DIITB of being the extended arm of Turkish President Erdogan (AKP). This criticism has been expressed by the Left Party in a request of April 2018 to the German Federal Government. [8] And in May 2017 the Left Party called on the German government to stop the state funding of DITIB. [7]

In September 2018 the Süddeutsche Zeitung wrote that the domestic intelligence service (Bundesamts für Verfassungsschutz) would examine an observation by DITIB. As a result DITIB would be systematically monitored under the direction of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution/domestic intelligence agency (Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz). If the suspicion is confirmed, then these organizations become full observation objects. Then the use of informants and intercepting of telecommunications is possible. [9]

In November 2018 however it became known that virtually all state offices of the domestic intelligence service (Verfassungsschutz) and especially those with large state associations of DITIB have objected to the proposal. Despite worsening misconduct there were no serious consequences for Diyanet in Germany and DITIB. The acceptance of the influence from Turkey also shows the potential for proper handling of migration and integration. [4]

[1] http://www.ditib.de/default.php?id=5&lang=de
[2] http://www.ditib.de/default1.php?id=5&sid=8&lang=de
[3] DITIB als verlängerter Arm des Türkischen Präsidenten Erdo?an 2018-04-25
http://dipbt.bundestag.de/dip21/btd/19/018/1901869.pdf
[4] Verfassungsschützer wollen keinen Bruch mit Ditib 2018-11-09
https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/ditib-verfassungsschutz-1.4204751
[5] Kritik an Erdogans türkischen Predigern in Deutschland 2016-04-24
https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article154680761/Kritik-an-Erdogans-tuerkischen-Predigern-in-Deutschland.html
[6] Innenminister setzen Ditib wegen Radikalen unter Druck 2019-01-27
https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article187762562/Konferenz-mit-Muslimbruedern-Innenminister-setzen-Ditib-wegen-Radikalen-unter-Druck.html
[7] Drucksache 18/11855 - Stopp der staatlichen Förderung des Islamverbandes DITIB 2017-05-08
http://dipbt.bundestag.de/doc/btd/18/122/1812259.pdf
[8] Drucksache 19/1521 - DITIB als verlängerter Arm des Türkischen Präsidenten Erdogan 2018-04-25
http://dipbt.bundestag.de/dip21/btd/19/018/1901869.pdf
[9] Umstrittener Moscheeverband - Ditib im Visier des Verfassungsschutzes 2018-09-20
https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/ditib-verfassungsschutz-103.html