The Ibn Rushd Goethe Mosque in Old Moabit Photo: Frank Senftleben
From BZ/dpa
For fear of Islamist attacks, a Berlin mosque has now announced that it will remain closed until the end of next year!
The Ibn Rushd Goethe Mosque was founded in 2017 by the lawyer Seyran Ates (60). In the house in Moabit, male, female and queer Muslims can pray together. The house stands for liberal, progressive Islam.
Reason for the long closure: Risk of attacks related to IS terrorists from Tajikistan. The terrorists are now in custody. Nevertheless, the mosque community cannot continue as if nothing had happened. “We are at the end of our strength at this moment,” Ates told “T-Online”.
Male, female and queer Muslims can pray together in the Ibn Rushd Goethe Mosque Photo: Frank Senftleben
“In view of the current danger situation, we can no longer continue as an open mosque,” the mosque said in a newsletter. What happens next will be considered in the next few weeks.
The mosque’s educational work will continue despite the closure. This includes democratic education offerings and an “Islam & Diversity” contact point.
“The fact that a liberal institution like this is closing, at least temporarily, for security reasons must shake us up,” says Berlin SPD state chairwoman Franziska Giffey (45). “Together with all security forces in our city, we must ensure that the mosque’s work can take place safely in the future.”