From the Street to the Schoolyard: Anti-Muslim Bias in Germany
Discrimination Against Muslim Women Prevails as a Significant Issue
In the heart of Europe, trust in state and civil society institutions among victims of anti-Muslim bigotry is declining, according to counselors working with network Claim. The narrative painted in the 2024 report reveals a concerning trend: a heightened distrust, a climate of fear, and an increasing resignation among those affected. Incidents in schools often go unreported due to parental apprehension of reprisals.
Over 3,000 Cases documented in 2024
A glance at the 2024 report shows that Claim logged a staggering 3,080 cases of anti-Muslim bias, both criminal and non-criminal, compared to 1,926 cases in 2023. While the proportionate increase is not immediately comparable due to the expansion of participating counseling centers from 17 to 26 in 13 federal states, the centers that participated in 2023 also reported a significantly higher counseling volume. Some 2024 cases were particularly abhorrent, brutal, and dehumanizing, according to Guzin Ceyhan of Claim.
Women were the focus of around 70% of these documented incidents. Although the high dark figure limits representative conclusions, the reported numbers are consistent with other relevant studies.
Unwanted Attention, Insults, and Threats
Targeted adults and children faced insults that ranged from being called "knife-wielders," "anti-Semites," or "terrorists," and were sometimes threatened. The occurrence of such attacks skyrocketed following the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, and in the wake of suspected Islamist-motivated terrorist attacks within Germany.
The Darker Side of History
Some disturbing instances reveal a conflation of anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim sentiments, such as defacing mosques with swastikas, and insulting 13-year-old girls in Dresden as "headscarf Jews." A Palestinian family was confronted with a hateful slogan, "Dirty Arabs, finally disappear from Europe!", and another family had a pig's head left on their doorstep.
An unwavering mistrust towards governmental and civil society institutions, reinforced by societal, media, and political demonization, fuels feelings of alienation and skepticism among those affected by anti-Muslim bigotry in Germany. The surge in incidents following heightened tensions in the Middle East, such as the Hamas incursion into Israel, amplifies backlash and deepens hostility within Muslim communities. Victims fear further victimization or inaction, as many attacks have been described as brutal and inhuman, instilling doubts about the effectiveness of reporting. Additionally, many incidents remain unreported, as victims choose to keep quiet, driven by fear and mistrust.
- Despite the increasing number of cases related to anti-Muslim bias, there is a growing distrust towards both state and civil society institutions among the victims, as reported by counselors working with network Claim.
- In the 2024 report, it was demonstrated that women were the primary focus of the documented incidents, accounting for around 70% of the 3,080 cases.
- The incidents of anti-Muslim bigotry often involve targeted adults and children being called offensive names such as "knife-wielders," "anti-Semites," or "terrorists," and they may also be subjected to threats, echoing a darker side of history where it's not uncommon to conflate anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim sentiments.
