Integration Success Stories

The pictures presented show mixed Christian-Muslim married couples living in Germany with neither of both spouses having converted to their partner’s religion. Integration Success Stories is a project by photographer Thomas Potthoff and his wife Neziha Çetinkaya-Potthoff, themselves a bi-religious couple, that sheds light on the highest form of integration. People who have decided to live a life where mutual decisions have to be taken much more intensely, a steady give and take against the backdrop of mutual respect and the not-so-self-evident place of one’s religious and cultural values with respect to others. The series’ double portraits show couples who exhibit courage and openness. They are a role model and a motivation for living together in understanding and respect.

Thomas and Neziha, mixed Christian-Muslim marriage. Married in 1995, with two children. By Thomas Potthoff & Neziha Çetinkaya-Potthoff
Sami and Sandra, mixed Muslim-Christian marriage. Married in 2004, with one child.By Thomas Potthoff & Neziha Çetinkaya-Potthoff
Ibrahim and Claudia, mixed Muslim-Christian marriage. Married in 2010. By Thomas Potthoff & Neziha Çetinkaya-Potthoff
Dissou and Karin, mixed Muslim-Christian marriage. Married in 1993, with three children. By Thomas Potthoff & Neziha Çetinkaya-Potthoff
Ayhan and Birgit, mixed Muslim-Christian marriage. Married in 1981, with two children. By Thomas Potthoff & Neziha Çetinkaya-Potthoff
Necati and Christina, mixed Muslim-Christian marriage. Married 1997, one child.By Thomas Potthoff & Neziha Çetinkaya-Potthoff
Christoph and Suna, mixed Christian-Muslim marriage. Married 2000, one child.By Thomas Potthoff & Neziha Çetinkaya-Potthoff
Uwe and Emel, mixed Christian-Muslim marriage. Married 2001, one child.By Thomas Potthoff & Neziha Çetinkaya-Potthoff
Dirk-Paul and Nuray, mixed Christian-Muslim marriage. Married 2005, with two children.By Thomas Potthoff & Neziha Çetinkaya-Potthoff
Cahit and Natividad, mixed Alevite-Christian marriage. Married 2002, with two children.By Thomas Potthoff & Neziha Çetinkaya-Potthoff
Brahim and Helga, mixed Muslim-Christian marriage. Married 1996, with two children.By Thomas Potthoff & Neziha Çetinkaya-Potthoff
Javus and Concepción, mixed Muslim-Christian marriage. Married 2001, with three children.By Thomas Potthoff & Neziha Çetinkaya-Potthoff