German government funding for Cologne Islamic center sparks controversy

The German Federal Ministry of the Interior is providing approximately 500,000 euros in funding to the Islamic Competence Center for Welfare (IKW) in Cologne between 2024 and 2027. The funding has drawn sharp criticism from the AfD, which argues that taxpayer money should not support organizations with alleged extremist ties.

Critics point to connections between the IKW and the Islamic Council for the Federal Republic of Germany, whose largest member is the Islamic Community Milli Görüş (IGMG). State constitutional protection agencies in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg have classified the IGMG as having Islamist tendencies, noting its pursuit of a socio-political vision where Islamic rules form the basis of state order.

The Federal Ministry of the Interior has defended the subsidies, stating that the funds are not directed toward mosque associations and asserting that the project carrier is required to exclude extremist organizations, a process subject to monitoring.