Germany’s Charité University of Medicine in Berlin has barred an Islamic student group, the Medislam Collective, from holding further events on campus. The decision follows accusations of gender-segregated seating during lectures and sex-specific student activities, which the university says violate its anti-discrimination policies.
Footage surfaced showing men and women seated separately at an event hosted by Medislam. The group also organized events exclusively for males or females, such as “Brothers Activity Day” and “Sisters Activity Day.” Additional gatherings included Qur’an recitations, although it remains unclear whether the gender separation was officially mandated or informally adopted by attendees.
Charité officials clarified that the events were not part of the university’s curriculum and were independently organized. A university spokesperson stated that all planned events by the Medislam Collective have been suspended pending an internal investigation. The school emphasized the importance of maintaining a non-discriminatory and inclusive educational environment and warned of potential further action depending on the outcome of the review.
The Islamic group has claimed to be open to non-Muslim participants. However, concerns remain about the implications of gender-based separation on public campuses. Conservative leaders have argued that this practice conflicts with Western values of gender equality and academic freedom.
Germany’s anti-mass migration party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), has criticized the events, citing them as evidence of growing cultural tensions linked to Muslim migration. AfD Bundestag member Christoph Birghan described the issue as an encroachment on the freedom of universities and a symptom of broader societal changes.
A similar controversy erupted earlier this year at the Christian Albrechts University in Kiel. During “Islam Week,” reports indicated that men and women were seated separately, used different entrances, and displayed antisemitic materials. Organizers of that event later denied enforcing segregation, claiming students acted on their own.
University administrators across Germany now face increasing pressure to define boundaries for religious expression on public campuses, particularly when such practices intersect with institutional commitments to equality and nondiscrimination.
