Immigration Imam school to open in Belgium

[Maciamo]

After the Catholic University of Louvain-la-Neuve introducing Islam courses in its curiculum, at least one Imam school is soon to open in Belgium.

Expatica : Belgium to set up Imam school

Belgium plans on setting up an Imam school before the end of the 2006 -2007 academic year.

This school was requested by the Exécutif des musulmans de Belgique (the Belgian Muslim executive).

The Muslim executive also requests the presence of a mufti - a Muslim scholar who is also an interpreter and advocate of the Sharia, Islamic law, and who is, according to traditions, capable of issuing a fatwa, a judgment based on Islamic laws.

However, a Belgian mufti would not be given this right since it would conflict with Belgian's justice system.

A similar structure already exists in France and holds educational and informative functions.
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There are also talks on an eventual legislation to control the foreign finance of mosques in Belgium in order to reduce outside ideological influence on Belgian Imams.

I don't agree with a mufti advocating the Sharia or issuing Fatwa, but the creation of such Imam schools, if well managed, is obviously a good way to control what is being taught about Islam in the country, as well as where funds come from.