Everything you need to know about the Zentralrat der Muslime in Deutschland e. V. (ZMD)

Historical and structural overview
The ZMD was founded in 1994 in the city of Eschweiler, emerging from the “Islamischen Arbeitskreis Deutschland,” and was officially registered in 1995 in the association register of the city of Cologne ([turn0search1]).

The umbrella organization currently includes around 22 regional associations and approximately 300 mosque councils, representing about 15,000–20,000 members, with an estimated overall reach of 10,000–20,000 Muslim German families ([turn0search1], [turn0search18]).

It focuses primarily on non-Turkish Muslims, making it a complementary voice to Turkish-origin associations such as DITIB, Islamrat, and VIKZ ([turn0search1], [turn0search18]).

Leadership and executive board
Nadeem Elyas chaired the council from 1994 to 2006, followed by Ayyub Axel Köhler (2006–2010), then Aiman Mazyek (2010–June 2024); the current chair is Abdassamad El Yazidi since 2024 ([turn0search1]).

The current Secretary General is Aladdin BeiersdorfEl Schallah, with Özlem Basöz and Samir Bouaissa as deputies, and Mohamed Abu ElQomsan as Treasurer ([turn0search1]).

Goals and roles
The organization advocates for Muslims’ rights in Germany and seeks to facilitate religious practice, including the calculation of prayer times, slaughter regulations, establishing Islamic cemeteries, and promoting Qur’an education ([turn0search3], [turn0search11]).

It is active in developing approaches to religious education in schools and contributes to drafting teaching materials on Islamic culture ([turn0search3]).

The ZMD played a key role in establishing the “Tag der offenen Moschee” (Open Mosque Day) starting in 1997, aimed at showcasing religious and cultural diversity ([turn0search28]).

Coordination and influence
The ZMD is a founding member of the “Koordinationsrat der Muslime in Deutschland” (KRM) in 2007, and together with DITIB, Islamrat, and VIKZ forms one of the largest representative Muslim groups in dealings with public authorities ([turn0search1], [turn0search26]).

The ZMD has been involved in key issues such as introducing Islamic instruction in schools and debates around bans on slaughter without stunning, seeking to consolidate and secure religious rights ([turn0search1]).

Funding
The organization relies on membership fees, donations from the community and mosques, as well as occasional private support ([turn0search1]).

Challenges and criticism
The monitoring of some member organizations, such as DMG and IZH, by constitutional protection agencies due to alleged links to the Muslim Brotherhood, sparked debate about the independence of the ZMD ([turn0search9], [turn0search4]).

The ZMD has also faced criticism, particularly regarding perceptions that it did not issue sufficiently swift and explicit condemnations in certain events, such as attacks linked to extremist groups ([turn0news27]).

Media and community activities
The organization regularly publishes press statements on its website, expressing positions on issues such as combating racism, supporting refugees, and countering extremism ([turn0search5]).

In situations such as attacks on Jewish communities or incidents offensive to Muslims, it issues immediate solidarity statements and calls for perpetrators to be held accountable ([turn0search5]).

Conclusion
The Zentralrat der Muslime in Deutschland e. V. (ZMD) is a representative body for the predominantly non-Turkish Muslim population in Germany and is active in:

• organizing religious life for Muslims,

• developing Islamic religious education,

• influencing public policy and legislation,

• promoting interfaith dialogue and civic participation.

Despite challenges related to some member organizations, the ZMD remains a prominent platform for interfaith dialogue and religious organization in Germany, seeking to balance its role as an influential actor within a multicultural society.

ـ* The writing and editorial team on the website strives to provide accurate information through extensive research and consultation of multiple sources when preparing articles. However, some errors may occur or certain information may be unconfirmed. Please consider the information as a preliminary reference and always consult the competent authorities for confirmed information.