Muslims Unite

Rafet Öztürk of the Cologne-based Turkish-Islamic Union of the Institute for Religion (DiTiB) said four different Muslim associations had established the umbrella organization called the "Muslim Coordination Council " (KRM). In addition to DiTiB, the others include the Central Council of Muslims (ZDM), the Islamic Council and the Association of Islamic Cultural Centers (VIKZ).

The associations will remain independent, but the KRM is to be a central contact center for political dialogue, Öztürk said. The umbrella organization is also intended to foster commonalities between the four groups.

"We want to put ourselves to the test as to whether we can make decisions together," Öztürk said.

"Door open to all Muslims"

Earlier this week, thousands of Muslims gathered at the Cologne Arena to celebrate the birthday of their Prophet Mohammed. There, the associations made the announcement, though the decision had already been made in March.

"German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Minister of the Interior Wolfgang Schäuble now have the historical chance of making decisions and binding agreements about integration policies with Muslims for the coming years," Bekir Alboga of DiTib told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) paper.

The KRM hopes to be able to influence political decisions, such as about Islam religion classes in school.

According to Alboga, contact offices are supposed to be established in the various German states, with the presidency of the association to alternate every six months. The Central Council of Muslims is to begin the first presidency, with DiTib then taking over half a year later. Individual mosques or groups may also join the KRM.

"Our door is open to all Muslims," Alboga said.

According to the FAZ, Alboga's response about whether or not the organization Milli Görüs, which Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution had its eye on for quite a while, would be would be working with the KRM, was: "We are working with the Islamic Council."

Milli Görüs is a member group of the Islamic Council, the FAZ pointed out.