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-Various sources strongly claim Islam's history with Germany dates back to at least the 8th century
-Charlemagne established diplomatic relations with this al-Rashid in the year 797 or 801.
-Both figures reportedly granted freedom of belief for members of the other religionwithin in their respective empires. -
The Seljuk Empire in the 11th century commenced the Islamic period in Turkey.
-They aided in protecting the Islamic world during the Crusades.
-The Seljuk's dominated substantial areas of the Byzantine Empire.
-The Seljuk's provided a service to Europe by providing a secure border between them and the invading Mongol's.
-The Seljuk laid the early foundations for the Ottoman Empire. -
-One of the largest and longest lasting Empires in world history.
-Inspired by and sustained by Islamic priniciples.
-Replaced the Byzantine Empire as the major power in Eastern Mediterranean. -
-The empire was ruled by a single family for seven centuries.
-Controlled much of Southeast Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa.
-Characterized by state-run educational and judicial systems based on Islam ideology, as well as a strong military. -
-The first Muslim's arrived in Germany as prisoners of war from the Siege of Vienna by the Ottoman Empire in 1683.
-Many of these prisoners were either baptized or eventually returned to their homelands, according to the German Islam Conference (DIK). -
-The war was caused by Russia's attempts to establish a warm-water port on the Black Sea, which was Turkish territory.
-Many more Muslim prisoners of war arrived in Germany during the Russo-Turkish War. -
- When Prussia and the Ottoman Empire developed a more civil and diplomatic relationship, a large number of Muslims began to live in Germany regularly. -In 1798 when the third envoy died, Prussian King Frederick William III created a burial site for him, this established the first Islamic cemetery in Germany, which still stands today along Columbiadamm in Berlin.
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-Newspapers and propaganda were distributed to all roughly 4,000 to 5,000 Muslim men in various languages to encourage them to fight for their "holy war" during World War I
-In 1914, Max von Oppenheim is quoted saying: "In the battle against England, Islam will become one of our most important weapon." -
-The Wunsdorf Mosque was built in 1915 in Halbmondlager, a POW camp in Germany during World War I
-The detainees were given what they needed to practice their faith. This included spiritual texts, observing Ramadan, and sermons by traveling spiritual leaders.
-The camp was intended to convince the prisoners to wage "jihad" against the U.K. and France. This plan was unsuccessful and the mosque was demolished in 1925. -
-This was a dark time for Muslims and many others during the years of World War II.
-Adolf Hitler heard Mohammad Amin Al-Husseini calling for Arabs to “kill the Jews wherever you find them." This fit in with his horrific ideology and quest for world power.
-Heinrich Himmler, one of the chief architects of the Holocaust, said he did not oppose Islam because it promises followers “heaven if they fight and are killed in action” and that is was “a very practical religion for soldiers.” -
- During this time, Germany recruited migrant labor workers from Turkey. The majority of people from Turkey were Islam. -Many of the workers thought they would work for a short time and return home. This was the normal for about 20 years, until they started to ask their families to live with them in Germany. -Continuing Turkish labor and family migration
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- Over the last several decades of the 20th century, the migrants from Turkey have established their role and community within Germany, as well as their religious culture and traditions.
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-The calogne Mosque began construction in November 2009 and finished nearly a decade later in 2017-2018.
-The Cologne Mosque is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which means city planners are obliged to protect its visual integrity.
-This is officially the largest Mosque in Germany. -
-Muslim Population: 4,750,000
-Muslim % of Total Population: 5.7%
- Germany's Muslim population would be projected to increase by about 1 million, from just under 5 million (6.1% of the 2016 population) to 6 million in 2050 (8.7% of a shrinking overall population).
- Germany has opened its borders to large numbers of migrants, including many Muslim refugees seeking asylum from war and unrest in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere.