Schleswig-Holstein Recognizes Islamic Holidays and Plans Islamic Religious Education in Schools

For the first time in Germany, a federal state has formally recognized Islamic holidays, granting Muslims the legal right to official leave from school and work.

Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, has signed a groundbreaking agreement with the Northern German Association of Islamic Cultural Centers (VIKZ), which not only enshrines the right to take time off on the first day of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha, but also lays the foundation for broader recognition of Islam in public life.

The treaty was signed by the Ministry of Education and Culture and regulates several key points: Muslims must be granted leave on the two major holidays; VIKZ is given explicit rights to run educational and cultural institutions and to train imams; and, in the long term, there are plans to introduce Islamic religious education as a standard subject in schools, on equal footing with Protestant, Catholic, or Jewish religious studies.

Education Minister Dorit Stenke (CDU) described the step as “an important sign of recognition and equal treatment of religious communities.” She stressed that the treaty was not simply symbolic, but an affirmation that “people of the Muslim faith are part of our society.” For the government in Kiel, the agreement also provides a legal basis for practices that have, in part, existed informally, while giving Muslim communities greater planning security.

Initial confusion about whether or not the agreement was leading to new public holidays exclusively for Muslims was addressed by NDR in an additional comment under its Facebook story.

“It’s not the case that people of the Muslim faith receive additional days off. Children can request an exemption from school for religious holidays, and adults can apply for leave. However, there is no automatic entitlement,” it wrote.

The move, however, does signify further Islamic encroachment into Western society, with Muslim children effectively being entitled to extra days off from school, and businesses needing to manage workflow on what are typically business days in Germany and the West.

VIKZ, one of the largest Islamic umbrella organizations in Germany, hailed the treaty as a breakthrough. Its vice president, Muhlis Şahin, said, “The treaty makes it clear: Islam is part of our social life. It has taken deep root here and continues to flourish.” He emphasized that the recognition of Islamic holidays and institutions is about more than rituals: It is about participation, integration, and respect.

The agreement goes beyond holidays. It highlights youth work, early childhood education, and social integration as priorities. According to the official statement, this includes language support and educational opportunities aimed at strengthening equal chances for Muslim children and young people. Both the state government and VIKZ noted that the agreement is designed to promote constructive coexistence.

So far, Germany’s approach to Islamic holidays has been uneven. Hamburg and some other states have allowed Muslim pupils to take excused absences for major holidays, but Schleswig-Holstein is the first to grant formal recognition under the Sunday and Public Holiday Act, which also applies to Christian and Jewish observances.