General suspicion frustrates Muslims in Germany
Amira is on her way to daycare to pick up her daughter when a man insults her as a "terrorist bitch" and knocks over the baby carriage. "Several people witnessed this at close range, but didn't intervene," says the 30-year-old from Cologne.
"The attack was frightening, as was the fact that there was no civil courage." Amira was born and raised in Germany, is a racism researcher, self-confident and wears a headscarf. Since the Hamas terror attack on Israel on October 7, the climate has become harsh and hostile for many "Muslim-marked" people who are interpreted as Muslim because of their appearance and are therefore treated with hostility. A lawyer (29) who grew up in Berlin similarly says that she is insulted, mobbed at and no longer feels safe.
The Central Council of Muslims (ZMD) and the Islamic association Ditib speak of general suspicion and complain about attacks on Muslims and mosques. Amira and many of her friends clearly feel this in their everyday lives. "A racially charged change is noticeable in society," she describes. Amira is eloquent, is currently writing her doctoral thesis - and in recent weeks has repeatedly heard from complete strangers that she should "learn German first" or stick to "German rules". She knows of several "Muslim-marked" people who have lost their jobs in recent weeks "because they somehow made sympathetic pro-Palestinian statements".
What has changed for Muslims after October 7?
Many Muslims have the feeling that the situation after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in the USA is now repeating itself for them, says Yasemin El-Menouar, religion expert at the Bertelsmann Stiftung. "Back then, too, pressure was built up and Muslims in Germany were asked to take a stand." In the population as a whole, the focus on Muslims is now reflexively shifting back to their supposed countries of origin, as if they were their representatives and virtually co-responsible for events and actions there. "I'm experiencing a great deal of frustration." In the current Middle East conflict, she sees a lot of compassion and deep solidarity with the people on both sides among Muslims in this country.
ZMD head Aiman Mazyek reports that children and young people from Muslim communities sometimes feel stigmatized in schools. In individual cases, there have been "attitude tests" in schools. In these tests, pupils with a Muslim background were asked about their attitudes towards the Middle East conflict and Hamas. Attempts are also being made to find out about parents' attitudes - which is unacceptable. And he makes it clear: "Anti-Semitism is a sin in Islam." 5.5 million Muslims live in Germany, with a particularly high number in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Where do such sweeping insinuations come from?
According to El-Menouar, there has long been a great deal of skepticism towards Muslims and their religion. "Islam is seen less as a religion and more as something close to Islamism and terror. Muslims are assumed to accept religiously based extremism and terror." Islamic associations have repeatedly condemned Hamas terror, have vehemently advocated a safe Jewish life and yet are repeatedly pilloried, criticizes Islamic scholar Jörn Thielmann. "Many Muslims are German citizens, grew up here, went to school here and are now expected to justify themselves for something for which they can do just as little as the Catholic Mr. Müller or the Protestant Ms. Meyer."
What consequences does this have for society?
Thielmann believes that younger Muslims in particular are likely to suffer long-term consequences if they feel stigmatized and offended and are wrongly labeled as "terrorist supporters or terrorist sympathizers". Dirk Halm from the Center for Turkish Studies speaks of a social divide. This is expressed "in increasingly blatant anti-Semitism, but also in hostility towards Muslims". Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier recently invited people to a round table to promote peaceful coexistence without anti-Semitism and hostility towards Muslims.
Mazyek warns that general suspicion could lead to a worrying alienation, especially among younger people. Some could fall into the clutches of extremists. Amira describes "micro-aggressions" against her and many of her friends - ostracizing, derogatory comments or jostling. "We work here, raise our children, help shape society - and yet our belonging is now increasingly being questioned." And the Berliner says: "I have the feeling that I have to hide a large part of my identity, namely being Palestinian, for fear of negative reactions and consequences."
A differentiated view is required
El-Menouar knows that there are also radical attitudes and Israel-related anti-Semitism among Muslims. But: "We have anti-Semitism in Germany that runs right through society and is also a problem in the Muslim community. To single out just this group would be wrong and lead to further division." Some rallies are cleverly instrumentalized by Islamists for their own purposes. Islamist slogans have also been heard from Muslims and Hamas attacks have been loudly welcomed, adds Thielmann. "The Islamic associations in Germany are taking a strict stance against this."
Verbal attacks, aggression, being labeled - that wears you down, says the Palestinian-born Berlin lawyer. Germany is her home, but: "I'm actually thinking seriously about leaving the country for the first time and emigrating. And it's not just me."
In this current climate, Amira and her Muslim friends often face remarks such as "learn German first" or being accused of not adhering to "German rules", demonstrating a heightened level of scrutiny towards their perceived allegiance to their religion.
The Central Council of Muslims in Germany, led by Aiman Mazyek, has reported an increase in general suspicion towards Muslims, including stigmatization of children and young people in schools and attempts to probe their attitudes towards the Middle East conflict.
Source: www.dpa.com
