Seyran Ateş: Kurdish German Lawyer Who Founded a Liberal Mosque in Berlin
- Dala Sarkis
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
Who Is Seyran Ateş?
Seyran Ateş is a Kurdish German lawyer and women's rights activist born in 1963 in Istanbul who founded the Ibn Rushd-Goethe Mosque in Berlin in 2017 — one of the world's most prominent liberal Islamic institutions, welcoming Muslims of all genders, sexual orientations, and Muslim backgrounds (Sunni, Shia, Sufi, Alevi) to pray together without gender segregation.
She was shot and seriously injured in 1984 while working at a legal advice centre for Turkish and Kurdish migrants in Berlin — the shooting killed a colleague and left Seyran with a permanent injury. This attack did not stop her advocacy; she continued as a lawyer and feminist activist for decades before founding the mosque.
She has faced death threats for her work — from Islamist extremists who consider her mosque a desecration and from Turkish nationalists who resent her Kurdish-German feminist advocacy. She works under police protection. Her mosque has become a symbol of the possibility of a liberal, inclusive Islam in Europe.
Key Takeaways
• Born in 1963 in Istanbul to a Kurdish family; lives in Germany.
• Founded the Ibn Rushd-Goethe Mosque in Berlin in 2017 — a liberal mosque welcoming all Muslims.
• Survived a 1984 shooting while working as a lawyer for migrants.
• Works under police protection due to death threats.
• One of the most prominent Muslim feminist voices in Europe.
Quick Facts
Table of Contents
Early Life
Born in 1963 in Istanbul to a Kurdish family that emigrated to Germany. She became a lawyer and advocate for Turkish and Kurdish migrants in Berlin, suffering a near-fatal shooting in 1984 while at her work. She persisted in her legal and advocacy career, eventually founding the Ibn Rushd-Goethe Mosque.
Historical Context
European Islam in the 21st century has been the site of intense debate about integration, gender equality, and reform. Seyran Ateş's mosque represents the liberal, reformist side of this debate — an attempt to create an Islamic institution that is fully compatible with European values of gender equality and sexual diversity.
Achievements
Ibn Rushd-Goethe Mosque (2017)
The Ibn Rushd-Goethe Mosque in Berlin — named for the medieval Islamic philosopher and the German literary giant — is one of the world's most prominent liberal Islamic institutions. It holds mixed-gender prayers, welcomes LGBT Muslims, and is open to all Muslim backgrounds without sectarian distinction.
The mosque has attracted international media attention and has become a symbol of liberal Islamic reform in Europe. It operates under persistent threat from conservative and extremist Muslims who view it as an illegitimate innovation.
Timeline
Debates
Her mosque and her approach to Islamic reform are deeply controversial within Muslim communities. Traditional and conservative Muslims contest her interpretation of Islam. She is celebrated by progressive Muslims and human rights advocates as a trailblazer.
Legacy
Seyran Ateş is the most prominent Kurdish voice in European Muslim feminist discourse — a woman who survived a shooting, raised a family, practiced law, and then founded one of Europe's most significant liberal Islamic institutions. Her work represents the possibility of a fully inclusive European Islam.
Connections
FAQ
Who is Seyran Ateş?
Seyran Ateş (born 1963) is a Kurdish German lawyer who founded the Ibn Rushd-Goethe Mosque in Berlin in 2017 — a liberal mosque welcoming all Muslims regardless of gender or sexuality. She survived a 1984 shooting and works under police protection.
Was Seyran Ateş Kurdish?
Yes. She was born in Istanbul to a Kurdish family that emigrated to Germany.
What is the Ibn Rushd-Goethe Mosque?
A liberal mosque in Berlin founded by Seyran Ateş in 2017 that holds mixed-gender prayers, welcomes LGBT Muslims, and is open to all Muslim backgrounds. It is one of the world's most prominent liberal Islamic institutions.
References
Wikipedia contributors. 'Seyran Ateş.' Wikipedia. Accessed 2025.
Comments