News German Islamic teacher's license revoked for being too liberal

[Valin]

Deutsche Welle

Abdel-Hakim Ourghi has written books including "You Don't Have to Wear a Headscarf" and "Reform Islam: 40 Theses." His application to train other Islamic teachers was turned down for vague reasons.

Leah Carter

June 26 2021

A German Islamic scholar has had his teaching license rejected because of his "liberal theological convictions," one of his peers told a newspaper on Saturday.

Islam expert Susanne Schröter spoke out in support of Abdel-Hakim Ourghi, who headed the Islamic Theology department at the University of Freiburg for nearly a decade.

Last month, the 53-year-old Ourghi had his "ijaza" (license to train Islamic teachers) denied by the Stiftung Sunnitischer Schulrat (Sunni School Board Foundation), based in Stuttgart.

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A proponent of 'liberal Islam'

Ourghi touts a liberal form of Islam, which conflicts with the views of many conservative practitioners.

For example, he has published a book of theses for peaceful and gender-equitable religious practice, and warned future religion teachers in his seminars against political Islam and what he called the "outdated views of conservative scholars."

His books include You Don't Have to Wear a Headscarf and Reform Islam: 40 Theses.

(Snip)