Why is Germany failing to meet its goals in combating anti-Muslim racism?
Since the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Palestine in October 2023, German civil society groups have warned of an increase in anti-Muslim incidents.
A study commissioned by the government and published in June 2023 ("Report of the Independent Expert Group on Anti-Muslim Racism") acknowledged the widespread anti-Muslim attitudes in Germany and recommended that the German government should no longer separate anti-Muslim hate from racism. Germany continues to fall short in combating anti-Muslim racism. By the end of September 2023, the government had already recorded 686 "anti-Islamic" crimes, surpassing the 610 incidents reported for the entire year of 2022.
Despite these findings and recommendations, the Ministry of the Interior has yet to collaborate with the experts who prepared the report or implement their suggestions. This has led to criticism from Rima Hanano, head of the Coalition Against Islam and Muslim Hostility (CLAIM), who pointed out that 2023 marked a frightening new high for anti-Muslim incidents, with an average of three incidents per day in November. One specific case involved a man perceived as Muslim who was called a "terrorist" while exiting a public bus, attacked, and hospitalized. The lack of official data collection and clear indicators makes it difficult for authorities to address the problem effectively. Since 2017, the German government has classified anti-Muslim hate crimes under the term "anti-Islamic" motives, which emphasizes religious identity while neglecting ethnic identity. In 2017, only 1 in 10 people surveyed in an EU-wide Fundamental Rights Agency survey on anti-Muslim discrimination reported recent incidents, believing that "nothing would happen or change." Among those who reported incidents, 81 percent were dissatisfied with the police response. The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination urge Germany to establish independent monitoring structures and robust capacity building by authorities to effectively combat anti-Muslim racism.
Human Rights Watch: German Government Fails to Protect Muslims from Racism
Human Rights Watch is calling on Germany to take more decisive action against anti-Muslim racism. The organization criticizes the German government for failing to protect Muslims from racism, especially in light of a troubling increase in discriminatory attacks and hate crimes. Since the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Muslim communities in Germany have reported a rise in Islamophobic hate crimes, driven by biased media coverage and propaganda from far-right politicians. Almaz Teffera, an expert at Human Rights Watch, emphasized that the German government needs to change its approach to better combat anti-Muslim racism. It is crucial to improve the understanding of anti-Muslim hate and to ensure better recording and prosecution of hate crimes against Muslims. "Without a clear understanding of anti-Muslim hate and discrimination in Germany, as well as strong data on incidents and community work, the response from German authorities will remain ineffective," said Teffera. "Germany should invest in the protection of Muslims and all other minority communities, as this is an investment in the protection of the entire German society."
Report Reveals: Everyday and Structural Discrimination Against Muslims in Germany
In Germany, the approximately 5.5 million Muslims frequently face everyday and structural racism, according to a new report presented at the Ministry of the Interior in Berlin on Thursday. The Independent Expert Group on Anti-Muslim Racism, which worked for three years, conducted a comprehensive investigation into racism and hostility towards Muslims in the country. The analysis was based on scientific studies, police statistics, and documentation of anti-Muslim incidents by anti-discrimination agencies, counseling centers, and non-governmental organizations.
The report concludes that at least one-third of Muslims in Germany have experienced hostility due to their religion. However, the experts pointed out that the actual numbers are likely much higher, as only about 10% of Muslims report hostility and hate crimes against them. The researchers found that Muslims in Germany are not only subjected to overt racism but also encounter daily stereotypes from childhood to old age. Negative prejudices often involve attributing backward and threatening characteristics to Muslims and those perceived as Muslims. These stereotypes lead to exclusion and discrimination by the majority society, despite the fact that 50% of Muslims in Germany hold German passports.
The study highlights that anti-Muslim attitudes are widespread in nearly all areas of life, from schools to the police, and from media to politics. Karima Benbrahim, one of the study's authors, emphasized the need for a united societal and institutional effort to raise awareness of anti-Muslim sentiment and to combat it.
Closure of the Islamic Center Hamburg: The Influence of Lobby Groups
The closure of the Islamic Center Hamburg did not come as a surprise but was the result of a media and state campaign against the center that began in November of last year. Members of the governing coalition demanded the closure of this religious and intellectual institution in parliament. The parliament was set to vote on whether and how to shut down the center. In November of the previous year, German police raided the Islamic Center Hamburg and 54 other centers across seven federal states under the pretext of investigating some unfounded allegations. The German Ministry of the Interior stated at the time that the Islamic Center Hamburg and its affiliated institutions were being investigated due to suspicions of activities against public order. These allegations were made without presenting any evidence of wrongdoing by the Islamic Center Hamburg.
The Islamic Center Hamburg, one of the most significant and oldest Islamic centers in Germany, was established in Hamburg in 1953 with the support of Ayatollah Boroujerdi. Its activities include publishing magazines in German and Persian and providing advisory services. The center has a library with over 6,000 book titles on various Islamic and Shiite topics. Due to the strong presence of lobby groups from the Zionist regime and the terrorist organization Mujahedin-e-Khalq in some German cities, this religious and cultural center has occasionally been targeted by accusations and propaganda campaigns. However, last year, with the onset of unrest in some Iranian cities, attacks on the Islamic Center Hamburg intensified, especially as the German government, along with the US and some European countries, supported the unrest in Iran.
In the worst-case scenario, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, combined with the German government's insufficient response to rising anti-Muslim racism, could lead to significant social unrest and violence within Germany. The unchecked increase in anti-Muslim incidents, now averaging three per day, may escalate further, resulting in more severe and frequent attacks on Muslim individuals and communities. The lack of effective measures and collaboration with experts, as well as inadequate data collection on these hate crimes, might contribute to a climate of fear and mistrust among Muslim populations. This could lead to widespread alienation and radicalization within these communities, heightening tensions and potentially inciting retaliatory violence. The perceived inaction and poor police response could undermine public trust in law enforcement and governmental institutions, exacerbating social divisions and destabilizing German society. Additionally, biased media coverage and far-right propaganda could further inflame anti-Muslim sentiments, potentially leading to more widespread civil disturbances and endangering the safety and cohesion of the broader German society.
