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Muslim Life in Germany a Study Conducted on Behalf of the German Conference on Islam

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Muslim Life in Germany a Study Conducted on Behalf of the German Conference on Islam Deutsche Islam Konferenz Muslim Life in Germany A study conducted on behalf of the German Conference on Islam www.deutsche-islam-konferenz.de www.bamf.de Research report 6 Dr. habil. Sonja Haug Stephanie Müssig, M.A. Dr. Anja Stichs Muslim Life in Germany A study conducted on behalf of the German Conference on Islam 4 Foreword Foreword Federal Minister of the Interior Dr. Wolf- gang Schäuble opened the German Conference on Islam (DIK) in Berlin on 27 September 2006, thereby establishing a national framework for the dialogue between the German state and the Muslims living in Germany. This dialogue seeks to improve the integration of the Muslim population and to ensure the good coexistence of all the people living in Germany. In its interim résumé of 2 May 2007 the DIK noted a lack of sound information on Germany's Muslim population, in partic- ular with regard to data on the integration of the Muslim popu- lation in Germany. In addition, estimates providing the basis for assessments of the number of Muslims in Germany were also found to be outdated. It was against this background that the DIK commissioned the Federal Office for Migration and Refu- gees to conduct the research project "Muslim Life in Germany". This report constitutes the first nationwide representa- tive study of Muslim migrants from 49 countries of origin. A nationwide database on the Muslim population has now been established for the first time by means of interviews conducted directly with migrants. On the basis of these representative data, the estimates of the number of Muslims living in Germany and the respec- Foreword 5 tive shares of the different Islamic denominations have been revised. These structural data are accompanied by representa- tive findings on the religious practice of Muslims in Germany. The extent to which religious affiliation or regional origin affect integration into the host society has also been examined. To this end, common characteristics and differences between Muslims and members of other religious communities and between Muslim migrants from different regions of origin were assessed by reference to selected indicators. In the context of the measures to be pursued as part of the Federal government's integration policy, the study helps to enable an improved assessment of the social relevance of reli- gious views. On the basis of empirical data, the study ultimately demonstrates the diversity of Muslim life in Germany. It clearly establishes that adherence to Islam constitutes only one aspect in the broader context of integration – a factor which requires to be considered, but without according it undue importance. The study has the potential to greatly objectify the debate on Mus- lims in Germany. Dr. Albert Schmid President of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees 6 Overview of contents Key findings 11 1 Introduction 19 2 How many Muslims live in Germany? 53 3 Sociodemographics and migration biography 104 4 Religiousness and religious practice 128 5 Aspects of integration 198 6 Concise profiles of the migrant groups 293 7 Summary and conclusion 310 8 Bibliography 335 9 Abbrevations/Glossary 361 10 Questionnaire 363 Table of contents 7 Overview of contents Key findings 11 1 Introduction 19 1.1 Research to date 22 1.2 Methodological description of the study 34 2 How many Muslims live in Germany? 53 2.1 Number of Muslims in Germany 54 2.1.1 Number of foreign Muslims in Germany 61 2.1.2 Number of Muslims with German citizenship and a relevant migrant background 65 2.1.3 Total number of Muslims according to countries of origin 74 2.1.4 Comparison of the extrapolated results with other sources of data 79 2.2 The structure of Muslims in Germany 89 2.2.1 Muslims: Immigrants from predominantly Muslim regions of origin 90 2.2.2 Denominational breakdown 92 2.2.3 Gender and age structure 94 2.2.4 Regional distribution among the Federal states 101 3 Sociodemographics and migration biography 104 3.1 Gender and age structure 107 3.2 Migrant generation, duration of residence, age upon immigration 110 3.3 Reasons for immigration 115 3.4 Citizenship and mode of naturalisation 120 3.5 Household size and number of children 125 8 Table of contents 4 Religiousness and religious practice 128 4.1 Denominational breakdown 128 4.2 Religiousness 131 4.2.1 Subjective assessment of religiousness 132 4.2.2 Religious behaviour 137 4.2.2.1 Private religious practice: Prayer, festivals, dining and fasting 138 4.2.2.2 Ritual religiousness: Attendance of religious events 151 4.3 Religion and social capital 155 4.4 Involvement in a religious community or organisation 159 4.5 Islamic associations in Germany 165 4.6 Religion and participation in school curricula 173 4.7 Wearing headscarf: Practice and reasons 184 4.7.1 Breakdown of Muslim women with and without a headscarf 186 4.7.2 Differences between Muslim women with and without a headscarf 189 4.7.3 Reasons for wearing the headscarf 196 5 Aspects of integration 198 5.1 Structural and cognitive integration 198 5.1.1 Educational level 200 5.1.1.1 Comparison between the religions and denominations 201 5.1.1.2 Comparison between the countries of origin 204 5.1.2 Gainful employment, occupational standing and types of income 214 5.1.2.1 Gainful employment 214 Table of contents 9 5.1.2.2 Occupational standing 221 5.1.2.3 Sources of household income 225 5.1.3 German language proficiency and integration course 230 5.1.3.1 Proficiency in the German language 230 5.1.3.2 Generation 233 5.1.3.3 Gender 234 5.1.3.4 Religion and country of origin 235 5.1.3.5 Differences between Muslim men and women 237 5.1.3.6 Participation in the integration course 239 5.2 Social and identificational integration 244 5.2.1 Membership of organisations and associations 245 5.2.2 Interethnic contact 255 5.2.2.1 Contact within the family 256 5.2.2.2 Interethnic partnerships 258 5.2.2.3 Contact at the place of work 261 5.2.2.4 Contact in the neighbourhood 262 5.2.2.5 Contact among friends 263 5.2.2.6 Openness to contact with Germans or ethnic isolation? 266 5.2.3 Interreligious openness 268 5.2.4 Partners’ religion and denomination 274 5.2.5 Residential environment, satisfaction and attachment 280 5.2.5.1 Proportion of foreigners in the residential area 281 5.2.5.2 Satisfaction and attachment to the place of residence 285 5.2.6 Attachment to Germany and the country of origin 287 10 Table of contents 6 Concise profiles of the migrant groups 293 6.1 Muslims from Southeast Europe 293 6.2 Muslims from Turkey 294 6.3 Muslims from Central Asia/CIS 296 6.4 Muslims from Iran 297 6.5 Muslims from South/Southeast Asia 299 6.6 Muslims from Middle East 300 6.7 Muslims from North Africa 302 6.8 Muslims from other parts of Africa 303 6.9 Alevis 304 6.10 Members of other religious communities 306 6.11 Persons without any religious affiliation 308 7 Summary and conclusion 310 7.1 Summary 310 7.2 Conclusion and starting points for integration policy 327 8 Bibliography 335 9 Abbrevations/Glossary 361 10 Questionnaire 363 Index of tables 421 Index of illustrations 427 Key findings 11 Key findings First study giving evidence on diversity of Muslim life in Germany The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees is present- ing the first nationwide representative study comprising people from 49 Islamic countries and thus offering an extensive view of Muslim life throughout Germany. The research commissioned by the Deutsche Islam Konferenz (DIK; hereinafter referred to as the German Conference on Islam) gives unprecedented in- sight into the diversity of Muslim life in Germany as people from different contexts of origin were questioned about religion in everyday life and about aspects of structural and social integra- tion. A total of 6,004 people aged 16 and above were surveyed by telephone; together with the information provided about other household members the analyses are based on data of almost 17,000 people. Germany is home to some 4 million Muslims The study conducted by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees puts the number of Muslims living in Germany at between 3.8 and 4.3 million. Expressed as a percentage of Ger- many‘s total population of around 82 million, the proportion of Muslims is between 4.6 and 5.2 per cent. Of all Muslims living in Germany with a migration background and originating from the countries of origin included in the study, some 45 per cent are German nationals while around 55 per cent are foreign na- tionals. 12 Key findings The Muslim section of the population is thus larger than has been assumed in previous estimates which ranged from 3.1 to 3.4 million. These estimates were based on an indirect meth- od whereby nationals from 20 predominantly Muslim countries living in Germany were added together with nationals from these countries who were naturalised between 1988 and 2005. By contrast, the study commissioned by the Federal Office also takes account of immigrants from a large number of other countries and descendants of naturalised persons. The new results also show, however, that a substantial percentage of persons with a migration background from some of the countries of origin are not Muslims. For example, almost 40 per cent of the migrants from Iran claim to have no religious affiliations.
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