Muslim clerics to learn about Denmark

Muslim clerics and teachers are to attend a special course to introduce them to sexual equality and other Danish values, Århus Mayor Louise Gade proposes. The idea has received a positive reception from many sides, including imams and public education programmes, daily newspaper Jyllands-Posten reported.

Gade presented her proposal in a speech, quoting recent criticism of many imams lack of knowledge and motivation to accept equal rights of men and women.

'It's essential to get the imams back to school,' she said. 'They need to understand which values we expect and demand that they respect. It should also apply to the Friday prayer. If they keep up those horrible statements about women, we will soon have any attempts to integrate immigrants bombed back to the stone age.'

Radwan Mansour, an imam with the Arabic Cultural Association, agreed with the proposal's intent.

'We need new knowledge all the time. There are huge differences between what the various imams know about Danish society, and since a number of them don't speak the language, there are some who know too little. So I don't see anything wrong designing a class for them,' said Mansour.

Peter Fischer-Nielsen, director of a Christian organisation mediating information between Muslims and Christians, said Gade's proposal was a good idea.

'Imams need to learn a little more about the nature of the public discussion and what is happening in society,' he said. 'They must also face the fact that their opinions are controversial to many Danes, and understand their role as public personalities. But we need be careful and not force the class on the imams.'

Gade also received support from public education programmes in Århus that envisioned co-operative efforts with the city.