Norway: Local imam training

Norway: Local imam training

Tariq Ramadan recently gave a talk in Oslo, and also called for Norwegian imam training.

-------

Local poltician Abdelmajid Jerad (Labor) in Bergen thinks Norway should have its own imam classes.

"I think that now is the time to start a debate about this. It will be very good if one could get a Muslim theological education at the university in Bergen or Oslo, preferably in cooperation with a university in a Muslim country," says Jarad to Bergens Tidende.

He thinks it's a problem that the Muslim leaders are brought from abroad.

"In Islam the imams don't just have a role of preachers but also as councilor for Muslims. The challenges for Norwegian Muslims will be different than for those who live in a Muslim country," says the city councilor, who is a Muslim.

He says that an imam must understand the values that Norwegian society is founded on.

"It took many years before I understood Norwegian society, and it's clear that it will be challenging for an imam who's new in Norway to familiarize himself with how it is to be a Muslim in Norway," says Jarad.

Source: VG (Norwegian)

See also: Oslo: Ramadan against victimization