Netherlands to have imam hatip

ISTANBUL

Hurriyet photo

A foundation is planning to open imam hatip high schools in the Netherlands within a year in order to raise imams who possess knowledge of both Dutch language and culture.

The Islamic Foundation of the Netherlands (Hollanda Diyanet Vakfı) is planning to open high schools similar to imam hatip religious vocational high schools in Turkey in which students in are in collaboration with other Turkish nongovernmental organizations in the country. Meanwhile, the foundation’s plan is only based on private initiatives.

An official from the foundation in the Netherlands told Hürriyet Daily News on Dec. 28 that the foundation had no ties with the Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate and therefore their project had no ties with the Directorate. However, the official said the foundation follows the path and principles.