As the parliamentary commissioner for the German armed forces, or Bundeswehr, Eva Högl is responsible for ensuring that the issues and needs of German soldiers get heard. In mid-March, Högl presented her third annual report in her role as commissioner — and once again, she pushed for a military chaplaincy for Muslims.

No matter which political party has controlled the Defense Ministry, when it comes to Islamic military pastoral care, the political line has remained the same for years: It's not possible, there's no partner to approach on the Muslim side.

Högl, of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), is no longer content with that response. The "lack of an equally empowered military chaplaincy for soldiers of the Islamic faith" is "extremely unsatisfactory." Högl has demanded that the Defense Ministry speedily institute this pastoral care, to be provided by qualified personnel on a contractual basis.

Högl recalled the multiweek aid mission that the German army undertook in southeast Turkey following the devastating earthquake in February 2023. Muslim soldiers were among the deployed, yet pastoral care was provided by two non-Muslim military chaplains. According to Högl, she received feedback indicating "that Muslim members of the military felt somewhat abandoned when it came to their religious practices."

In response to an inquiry by DW, a spokesperson for the Defense Ministry........

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