A flyer promoting a marriage preparation seminar for girls as young as 13 at a mosque in Germany has sparked widespread criticism, leaving the local Islamic Workers’ Association on the defensive and postponing the event indefinitely.
A flyer titled “Girls’ Night at the Mosque” went viral on social media, encouraging young girls to attend a seminar series at a mosque in Mannheim aimed at “preparing them for marriage.”
It included a quote attributed to the 10th-century Islamic scholar Al-Tabarani which read, “He who marries has completed half of his faith.”
The flyer featured a floral design typical of a “save the date” or wedding invitation.
The targeting of minors drew significant backlash on social media with many expressing alarm at the implications. Mannheim City Councilor Lennart Christ (CDU) reacted strongly, stating, “Marriage from the age of 13 has no place in Germany!” and calling for an investigation. He told Bild that the flyer sends a “fatal message.”
In an attempt to mitigate the damage caused, Khalil Khalil, a board member of the Islamic Workers’ Association, expressed regret over the flyer’s wording, describing it as “misleading” and claiming that it had caused unnecessary concern. He insisted that despite the language and presentation used, the seminar was never intended to promote early marriage.
“Early marriage is neither the goal nor the content of the course,” he said.
He further explained the seminar’s purpose, claiming that its aim was to “strengthen the self-confidence of the participants and to openly and critically discuss topics such as education, self-determination, sexuality, and equal partnerships.”
He insisted that the seminar “expressly points out the criminal liability of child marriages in Germany,” and said its objective was to counter harmful stereotypes and support young women in making informed decisions — the opposite of what has been achieved.
The local Islamic association confirmed the seminar has now been postponed indefinitely and vowed to ensure that future communication of such courses is made clearer.
