Germany experiments with training, certifying imams

As Islamic life and society claims an ever-larger place across
Western Europe, imams increasingly are being asked to provide guidance
to their immigrant and native-born Muslim congregations.

But that
leads to the question: Who provides guidance for the imams? New
educational and certification programs in Germany and neighboring
Austria hope to be the answer.

It's becoming increasingly clear
that imams who are telling their Muslim congregations how to respond and
adapt to their new homes were themselves trained and educated far from
Europe. Often basic concepts—such as democracy or church-state
separation—don't resonate with either Islamic spiritual leaders or
their flocks.