GENEVA, February 19, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – A Swiss think-tank has recommended teaching Islam in schools as it helps the second and third generation of the Muslim community integrate into society.

The Swiss Academy for Development (SAD) cited in a recent study the success story of teaching Islam in schools in the two cities of Kriens and Ebikon, central Switzerland, in the 2002/03 school year.

“The results of the experience exceeded all expectations and showed a positive feedback,” said the study, released on February 15.

“It can serve as a model for all cities across the country. Such schools encourage Muslim students adhere to their identity as they learn their religion in the languages used in the country,” it added, referring to the four official languages German, French, Italian and Romansch.

The study further said that the move is aimed at removing ethnic tensions as Muslims feel that they are being discriminated against for no reason other than their religion or background though a large portion of them do hold the Swiss citizenship or are permanent residents.

The academy called for providing basic finances for the project and enhancing cross-fertilization in the country.

Founded in 1991 and based in Biel-Bienne, SAD is a politically independent, non-profit foundation.

It is dedicated to the question of how societies handle social change and cultural diversity.

Federal authorities have put the study into consideration and signaled readiness to hold talks with academicians and experts in this regard.

In 2001, the Union of Muslim Organizations in the district of Luzern managed to get the government go-ahead for teaching Islam in Kriens and Ebikon, where a large number of Muslim students are enrolled in schools.

The body had offered to pay for schoolbooks, teachers’ salaries and other expenses.

The study further concluded that it was better for Muslim students to have their religion classes in schools other than in mosques.

“When they go to mosques, they feel as if they are doing it out of duty since most of these classes fall on weekends.”

The program has indeed appealed to Swiss Muslims, who hailed its modern and endearing methods.

“My daughter has grown up here and speaks fluent German. She finds religion classes in her school very appealing,” Bosnian-born Murad Mildic told IslamOnline.net.

Munira Bin Hassan, of Tunisian origin, said that ever since their three sons joined the religion classes in school, they demonstrated great enthusiasm for learning more about Islam.

“There is no problem with the teaching method in mosques, but it is too classic for my sons,” she told IOL.

Pakistani-born Momtaz Khan is proud that his son and daughter can brilliantly defend their religion.

“They impress me when they talk about Islamic tenets like fasting or hijab,” he said.

Many parents who spoke to IOL also paid tribute to Mrs. Regina Steiner, a Swiss teacher who embraced Islam 13 years ago, for helping their children love religion classes.

Experts, however, see right-wingers are a major obstacle to expand the teaching of Islam to other areas.

Officials in Luzern have already refused to support programs for qualifying imams and teachers of the Muslim faith in the district.

“The Muslim community in Luzern will definitely be disappointed at this kind of marginalization,” Bruno Staehli, an educational expert, told IOL.

The right-wing Swiss Peoples Party (SVP) has launched a ferocious campaign warning of “Islamizing” Luzern, portraying its famous tower as a minaret.

In 2004, Swiss Muslims withstood media onslaught, demonstrating to the public that they were an integral part of society.

Day in and day out, headlines like “The Islamic Terror is Coming”, “Country Vs. Radicalism”, “Islamists Living With Us,” “Hijab in Parliament” and “Swiss Funds for Islamic Terror” were splashed by newspapers.

Islam is the second religion in Switzerland after Christianity. The country is home to 330,000 Muslims representing a sizable 4.5 percent of the country’s some eight million people.