Continuation of Islamic Instruction in Hessian Schools Permitted - Hessen permits ongoing Islamic education within the state
In the German state of Hessen, students now have two options for Islamic instruction in schools, following a recent ruling by the Wiesbaden Administrative Court in August 2025.
The state-organized Islamic instruction, introduced in the 2019/2020 school year, is designed for students who do not participate in religious instruction of other religious communities or ethics classes. This option does not compete with or unlawfully impede the religious instruction offered by Ditib, as the court has dismissed Ditib's lawsuit against the state-organized Islamic instruction.
While an appeal has been filed against the court's ruling, the state-run Islamic classes will continue to be offered. The judges ruled that the state-organized instruction does not violate the right of religious communities to provide religious instruction in line with their principles and does not lead to a lack of teachers for the faith-oriented instruction offered in collaboration with Ditib.
It is important to note that the state-organized Islamic instruction is not faith-oriented, unlike the option offered in collaboration with Ditib. This means that it does not promote a specific interpretation or practice of Islam.
The court's decision comes amidst ongoing debates about the wearing of religious attire in schools and the restrictions on civil servants and teachers regarding religious symbols in Hessen and other German states. However, these regulations do not appear to directly affect the provision of Islamic religious instruction in schools.
In summary, the current status in Hessen is that the state-run Islamic classes remain permitted and continue to be offered, upheld by the recent court ruling. This decision allows for a diverse range of educational opportunities, providing students with a choice in their Islamic education.
The Commission has announced plans to support this development in the field of education by granting a Community guarantee to the German authorities for the financing of the training of teachers in the state-organized Islamic instruction. In the general news, discussions about the expansion of educational-and-self-development opportunities continue, with a focus on providing various options for students to explore their faith in Islam.
