When a children's comic glorifying “martyrdom” was published by the DİTİB in the summer of 2016, the then Justice Minister of Germany, Thomas Kutschaty (SPD) issued an order for security check for all imams working in government institutions.

The security checks tightened after several Turkish imams were prosecuted for being a Turkish spy and collecting information about German citizens and institutions.

According to the data provided by Germany’s North Rheine Westphalia (NRW) government after the introduction of the obligatory security check for imams working in prisons, most Muslim prisoners have quit their jobs.

ONLY 25 IMAMS WORKING IN NRW, DOWN FROM 117 TWO YEARS AGO

On Wednesday, the NRW Justice Minister Peter Biesenbach spoke in the Legal Affairs Committee of the Dusseldorf State Parliament. He said that currently 25 Muslim imams are serving in NRW and conducting the traditional Friday prayer sermons in the prisons.

Two years ago, there were 117 imams in NRW. Of the currently available 25 imams in NRW only 4 are in connection with DİTİB and after extensive security check they have been given permission to work as an imam.

IMAMS AVOIDING SECURITY CHECKS

Most imams refused the obligatory security check and quit their jobs. Almost all of these are working for DİTİB.

Security sources say that the imams were avoiding an investigation by German authorities. After quitting their jobs most imams returned to Turkey.

According to German security authorities, DİTİB is regarded as an "extended arm of the Erdoğan regime" and is obviously dependent on the Turkish state, both structurally and financially.

Another German state Rheinland Pfalz declared that imams working for DİTİB will not be allowed to serve in prisons.