Fifty young Muslim scouts, including girls, attended a recent leadership course in Switzerland.

GENEVA, April 17, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) – Young European Muslims are increasingly engaging in scout teams with an eye on better integration and at the same time preserving their Islamic identity.

"Joining scout team is an effective way for young Muslims in Europe to practice different sporting, cultural and social activities," Ghareib al-Arabi, the head of the Swiss Islamic Youth and Childhood Group, told IslamOnline.net.

"They get to know more about the history and the geography of their country," he added.

Moaz al-Khureigy, head of the Muslim Scout Union in Britain, agreed.

"Our 1000 members have largely benefited from scouting activities which positively reflected on their personalities and behavior in schools and society," he told IOL.

The western city of La Chaux-de-Fonds hosted last week a five-day leadership course for fifty young Muslims to establish scout teams in their respective European countries.

It was organized by the International Union of Muslim Scouts (IUMS) and the Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe in tandem with the Swiss Islamic Youth and Childhood Group.

Participants were acquainted with goals and history of the scout movement and the different kinds and characteristics of scout teams.

They were also coached on administering scout teams and recruiting best members.

Zuhair Hussein Ghoneim, IUMS secretary general, said the course was very successful.

"The hoped-for-goals have been achieved," he told IOL, adding that participating Muslim scouts interacted positively with their trainers.

Hussein Sahl, the IUMS deputy chief, said they were able to test the mettle of participating Muslim scouts.

"Scouts, especially from Austria and Switzerland, can form Muslim scout teams in their countries and recruit more members."

Representatives of Muslim scout movements in Switzerland, currently available only in Geneva and Zurich, vowed to form more teams in other Swiss cities.

The organizers agreed that the training course would be held every year in Switzerland.

Muslim scouting activities are seek to strike the right balance and add a spiritual touch to meet the needs of team members.

"Muslims have added the spiritual touch to scouting activities in Europe," said a proud al-Khureigy.

Activities usually feature competitions involving questions about verses from the Noble Qur`an and sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him).

Bosaidy, the head of the Islamic Scout Union in Sweden, agreed.

"The Muslim scout movement in Sweden, which began in 2001, has played an important role in protecting young Muslims against vice and harms."