Muslim Life in Germany - Deutsche Islam Konferenz

298 Concise profiles of the migrant groups
Muslims living in Germany come from Iran. They differ greatly
from the other Muslims in Germany.
95 per cent of Muslims from Iran are Shiites. The Shiite
denomination is otherwise only found among migrants from
the Middle East in appreciable numbers, and this means that
the group of Shiites in Germany largely consists of Iranian migrants.
Slightly over 50 per cent of Muslims from Iran are male;
they have a relatively high age, are almost exclusively first generation
migrants and have lived in Germany for an average of 15
years. More than a third cite alignment and asylum as reasons
for entering Germany. In addition, joining family members,
training/studies and taking up self-employment are named
as important motives for entering Germany by Muslim immigrants
from Iran.
There is a very low level of religiousness among Muslims
from Iran: Around a third are not devout at all and only 10 per
cent are extremely devout. 72 per cent never attend religious
events. The standard of education among this group is extremely
high: 81 per cent have gained a qualification in their country
of origin or in Germany entitling them to enter higher education.
Among Iranian Muslims who attended school in Germany,
63 per cent have passed the Abitur examination or qualified by
other means for further education. Participation in the labour
market and training is relatively high, as is occupational standing.
The good integration in the labour market is also reflected
in the above-average proportion of self-employed people (20
per cent). With regard to the social integration of Muslims from
Iran it is revealed that a high standard of education is not automatically
accompanied by frequent contact with persons of German
origin.