WordBulletin

World Bulletin / News Desk

The federal state assembly of Bremen, the smallest of Germany's 16 states, overwhelmingly approved an agreement signed between institutions representing the Islamic community and the Bremen government on Friday recognizing Islam as an official religion in the state, affording new rights to Muslims.

With the approval of the agreement, Muslims gained a religious community status for the first time in the history of Germany. In the vote on the agreement in the state assembly, 58 members voted in favor of it, eight voted against it and one abstained. The agreement guarantees the right to embrace and practice Islam, the protection of Muslim community properties, the approval of the construction of mosques with minarets and domes, the allotment of land for Muslim cemeteries, the supplying of halal food at prisons and hospitals, the recognition of Muslim holidays, Muslim representation in state institutions and several similar rights.