BERLIN, July 2 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Germany’s first Muslim Academy has opened in Berlin, supported by Christian leaders, with inter-religious dialogue, education and integration of the community members high on the agenda.

Though the European country has a host of Islamic organization serving some three-and-a-half million Muslims, the academy is widely regarded as a much-needed competing voice, reported Deutsche Welle on Thursday, July 1.

The new body, which boasts scientists, researchers and academics from Germany and several Muslim nations, aims to inform about all facets of Muslim life in Germany.

"We are not a religious institution, we do not issue fatwas. We are an educational institution founded by Muslims for Muslims," said the academy Chairman Abdul Hadi Christian Hoffmann.

"We want to fit into the traditional German system, and we want to provide courses on community involvement, etc," he added.

"In Germany, we have a particular system of political education, and on what it means to be politically engaged.

"All major parties, and all major religious denominations already have academies, so we are just filling in the gap."

Islam is Germany's third most popular religion after the Protestant and Catholic Christianity.

The academy also seeks to restore the image of Islam, which has taken a battering in recent years especially after the 9/11 attacks, as a religion compatible with the modern western world, the Deutsche Welle said.

To this end, the institute plans to organize discussions and seminars, which organizers hope will lead to the formation of democratic councils and working groups.

Hoffman, along with leaders of the academy, wants to change the tone of current debate on Islam in Germany, which can often be overrun by deep emotions.

"In the future, we'd like to see a more critical and rational debate on Islam in Germany and one that's of a higher intellectual standard than is usually the case."

"We hope we can leave behind the emotional suspicions and accusations bedeviling Islam. We want to contribute to the fact that our religion will meet with more respect."

Issues which recently triggered some controversy in a number of European countries, such as hijab, will be up for debate at the academy.

"We have a broad discussion on headscarves in Germany," the academy’s deputy chairman and former Berlin commissioner for foreigners' affairs, Barbara John, was quoted as having said by the Deutsche Welle.

"Should the wearing of headscarves be forbidden? One of our first events will be on the headscarf issue. But not in a way that we’d say, this should be done or that. We are creating a forum for many points of view," she elaborated.

Last week, Germany's Constitutional Court confirmed the legality of state laws that forbid public employees like teachers from wearing hijab on the job.

But it said Germany's 16 regional states could issue new legislations to ban it if they believe hijab would influence children.

The funding of the academy, backed by protestant and Catholic churches, will come from political foundations and private donors.

Hoffman, who was a member of the federal leadership of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany before embracing Islam, said the academy is respected in the society.

The academy does not receive funds from any Arab countries on claims of independence, as the body does not represent a religious standpoint.

Hoffman says he hopes all groups will find a voice in the new academy.

According to the Deutsche Welle, the timing of the opening of the academy seems opportune.

With debate over Turkey’s possible entrance into the European Union gathering strength, Europe could be faced with an influx of Muslims sooner than expected, it said.

German authorities have announced restrictions on Islamic academies and schools.

The restrictions included a Saudi-funded school and mosque in Bonn under pretext hey are linked to extremist groups.