Turkish Teachers, Migrant Knowledge, and ‘the Qurʾan School Problem’ in West Germany

Abstract

Beginning in early 1976, West Germans learned through media reports of the existence in the country of what were referred to, somewhat misleadingly, as “Qurʾan schools.” These were extracurricular courses where Muslim children, mostly Turkish citizens at the time, learned the Arabic alphabet and the basics of Qurʾanic recitation. In successive waves of print, radio, and television coverage, lasting into the 1980s, West Germans were troubled and seemingly captivated by stories about Qurʾan schools. These were described as secretive institutions where children were taught using antiquated, barbaric teaching methods. Turkish children were reportedly subjected to “stress in the name of Allah” or even “beatings with clubs while learning surahs,” to quote two headlines from 1977. Stories such as these ensured that the “Qurʾan school problem” attracted attention across the West German political spectrum at all levels, from city governments to the Federal Cabinet