Swiss perspectives in 10 languages

Muslim pastoral care training begins in Zurich

man in hospital bed reads Quran
Muslim emergency and hospital care gets a boost in Switzerland. Keystone

The Swiss Centre for Islam and Society has announced the start of a training programme that will prepare Muslim spiritual leaders to give emergency support in hospitals, at care-homes or after an accident. 

The need for qualified Muslim chaplains in public institutions has been felt for several years in Zurich. To fill this gap, the Swiss Center for Islam and Society said it was offering a continuing education course – set up jointly with the canton – as of Saturday.

The course “Chaplaincy and accompaniment in an interreligious context” also has the backing of Zurich’s two official churches and an umbrella body grouping Muslim organisations.

The aim is to train six women and six men, qualified in Islamic theology or Islamic studies, to accompany Muslim patients in distress or at the end of life. 

Future Muslim chaplains will undergo security clearance and intern in public institutions, such as hospitals.


PLACEHOLDER

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

People visiting a library in Switzerland

More

Swiss libraries receive over 46 million visits

This content was published on Public libraries in Switzerland recorded 46.3 million admissions last year, 7.4 million more than in 2022, says the Federal Statistical Office.

Read more: Swiss libraries receive over 46 million visits

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR