German university bans Muslim society over gender-segregated meetings

Telegraph

6 days ago

A prestigious German university has banned a Muslim student society after it held a gender-segregated meeting in a lecture hall.
Charité, which dates back to the 18th century and is Europe's largest university hospital, says it has banned the group Medislam Collective (MSC) from using its premises in Berlin, in the interests of a 'discrimination-free' environment.
It comes after photographs of a MSC meeting, which showed male and female students sitting apart from each other in a lecture hall, were widely published by German media.
The students organised the meeting themselves and there is no suggestion that Charité university has started holding gender-segregated classes or lectures. The student group has not commented on the dispute.
A spokesman for Charité university said: 'Based on current information, and in the interests of a discrimination-free, integrative and values-based environment, the group is immediately prohibited from holding events and activities on the university grounds, until further notice.'
As of Tuesday morning, the university had also removed the MSC's society page from its official website.
MSC describes itself as a society for Muslim medical students and non-Muslim students with an interest in their faith. The group hosts quizzes, networking events and Iftar dinners, for the breaking of the fast of Ramadan, as well as study groups and discussions about preventing racism.
The video that caused the row was posted on Instagram, and features several brief clips showing female and male students sitting in two groups on each side of a lecture hall.
A caption on the video states: 'We began the new semester with a meaningful recital from the Quran, and exciting insights into the history and vision of MSC – perfect for new faces to arrive and feel welcome right away. We rounded off the evening with team games, tasty snacks and valuable discussions.'
Separate entrances
It follows a similar incident at Germany's Kiel University, where a Muslim student group reportedly held an event requiring men and women to use separate entrances and sit apart.
In 2017, the London School of Economics also came under fire for allowing gender segregation at an Islamic Society gala dinner, with tickets marked for 'brothers' and 'sisters'.
The university later conceded that the event was 'likely to fall foul of the Equality Act 2010 and be unlawful on the grounds of discrimination by gender due to the segregation'.
The far-Right Alternative für Germany party has claimed that the Chariŧé incident is a sign of the gradual 'Islamification of our universities'.
'These incidents show this is not about an academic debate, but about the politicisation of the freedom of our universities,' said Christoph Birghan, a member of the Bundestag.