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A supervisory committee at Berlin’s Humboldt University (HU) voted on Friday in favor of establishing an institute for Islamic theology that critics have denounced for having what they called a conservative Islamic advisory board.
The head of the committee said the publically funded institute, which is set to train imams and religious teachers, was a “milestone” in the university’s development. The city of Berlin will provide some €13 million euros ($15 million) in funding for the center, which will become the sixth academic institute for Islamic theology in Germany.
“Humboldt University will recognize its social responsibility and integrate Islamic theology into its interdisciplinary academic network,” HU President Sabine Kunst said in a statement.