A dispute has broken out in Wuppertal, Germany over the Turkish-Islamic Union’s (DITIB) plan to build a new mosque and community center on city-owned land on the Gathe, currently home to the left-wing Autonomous Center (AZ). Both the Left Party and the AfD are against it, but for very different reasons.
The project has led to unusual political alliances: The Left Party and the AfD both oppose it—the Left because of DITIB’s ties to Turkey’s state religious authority, Diyanet, and the potential loss of the AZ, and the AfD out of general opposition to mosque construction.
Back on September 6th, protests erupted across the city. Left-wing activists staged demonstrations under the slogan “Subculture meets High Culture,” entered the Von der Heydt Museum, and briefly occupied vacant buildings. Police intervened, removing participants and recording the identities of two dozen people.
The planned complex, approved by a city council resolution in March 2023, would cover about 6,000 square meters and include a large prayer hall, daycare facility, and apartments for students and seniors. The city describes it as a “center of community life” combining religious, cultural, educational, and social functions.
Critics accuse DITIB of being too close to Diyanet and tolerating nationalist influences, especially after local youths were seen making the right-wing extremist Grey Wolves hand sign. DITIB denies the allegations, emphasizing openness and inclusivity. Community leader Ersin Özcan said the project is meant for all residents of Wuppertal and called the opposition politically motivated.
The majority of Wuppertal’s city council—including the SPD’s Mayor Miriam Scherff, the CDU, and Greens—supports the project. The Left demands suspension of the plan until a new location for the AZ is found. The FDP withdrew from the city’s dialogue advisory board in early 2025, while the AfD continues to oppose both the mosque and the AZ.
City officials confirm the council’s 2023 decision remains valid but stress that the project is not a “new mosque,” since DITIB already operates one nearby. They describe it as a broader community center. The zoning process is ongoing with no set timeline for final approval or construction, which will depend on funding and political conditions.
The city justifies the project by citing religious freedom and hopes it will strengthen liberal voices within Wuppertal’s Turkish-Islamic community. A dialogue board—including political, religious, and social representatives—was established to ensure transparency and to confirm DITIB’s apparent independence from Diyanet.
Meanwhile, the AZ’s future remains unresolved. The city has explored several relocation sites without success due to regulatory and ownership issues, so no move is currently planned.
