Sweden: Program for imams

The folk high school (College) in Sjövik, which is run by the Baptist Union of Sweden, will educate imams in how Swedish society functions.

Rector Lena Lönnqvist says they have been in contact with the education ministry aobut it, but Sjövik's council has yet to decide about it. Lönnqvist emphasizes that they will not offer religious Muslim education, as had been portrayed in the media.

The theological studies are referred to a university in Cairo. The Swedish college will offer Swedish education, and how Swedish society functions, including the relationship between church and state.

She, together with Abdulkader Habib, deputy rector and head of the Kista branch, recently visited the education ministry to present their ideas on how colleges can be a resource in integration.

Lars Leijonborg, minister for higher education and research, had recently said that he will start state imam training to counteract the radicalization of Islam, or at the least offer supplementary training in social knowledge and Swedish. For the latter he would like to see help from colleges.

Lönnqvist says that because they meet so many Muslims in their field, especially in Kista, they naturally feel they should accept the challenge. She said the education ministry showed much interest in their proposal.

Karin Wiborn, head of the Baptist Union, think that it's an interesting initiative. At the same time she says it would have been better if the administration would have been informed and had been part of the decision.

There are currently discussions about creating a foundation out of a number of Muslim organizations, who will take over Kista College. Today the school is run by Kanava, a Muslim association, together with Sjövik College. The idea from the start was that Sjövik would help the Kista branch along, but that the administration will later be transferred over. It is not clear when that would happen.

Source: Sandaren (Swedish), h/t Muslimska Friskolan (Swedish)

See also: Sweden: Gov't considers imam training

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