A3 Refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book
Efforts to establish an imam-training programme in Finland
Authors: Martikainen, Tuomas; Latvio, Riitta
Editors: Hashas, Mohammed; de Ruiter, Jan Jaap; Vinding, Niels Valdemar
Publisher: Amsterdam University Press
Publication year: 2018
Book title : Imams in Western Europe: Developments, Transformations, and Institutional Challenges
First page : 411
Last page: 430
eISBN: 9789048540006
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9789048540006-023
Web address : http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/9789048540006-023
This chapter describes the process of creating an imam-training pro-gramme in Finland. Finnish Muslims and Finnish Muslim NGOs took the initiative to establish imam-training programmes after conducting a survey of imams’ religious and societal training needs. It turned out that the majority of imams in Finland have some Islamic training, but it is still very basic. The imams indicated that they would welcome a Finnish training programme that would enhance their ability to work in local mosque organizations. After the survey, a limited training programme has already started, aiming mainly at enhancing imams’ leadership and societal skills.