Global Courant
BERLIN
While a total of 898 anti-Muslim incidents were recorded in Germany last year, the number of unreported cases remains high, according to a status report released Monday by the Berlin-based non-governmental organization Alliance Against Islamophobia and Anti-Muslims.
According to the study, racism is part of the daily life of Muslims in Germany and there are many recorded cases involving women.
Among the documented cases were 500 verbal assaults involving provocative statements, insults, threats and pressure. Eleven threatening letters were also recorded, containing “often extreme violence and death threats” to mosques. The letters contained Nazi symbols or references to the Nazi era.
In addition, the report mentions 190 cases of discrimination and 167 cases of “injurious behavior”. The second category included 71 bodily injuries, 44 property damage, three arson attacks and 49 other acts of violence.
In addition, it was stated that attacks against young people and children with racist motives increased. There are cases where women were attacked in front of their children, and pregnant women were kicked or hit in the stomach.
The authors of the study assume that the number of unreported cases is high due to the lack of extensive media coverage. The initial situation report included data from 10 counseling centers in the five German states, as well as reports via the “I-Report” portal, statistics on political violence, and police and press reports.
The report said that anti-Muslim crimes are often not recognized as such, or that those affected do not report them because they do not trust the authorities. The report therefore calls for, among other things, the expansion of reporting structures and raising awareness of the relevant authorities, schools and the health sector.
With a population of over 84 million, Germany has the second largest Muslim population in Western Europe after France. According to official figures, approximately 5 million Muslims live.
In recent years, Germany has witnessed growing racism and Islamophobia, fueled by the propaganda of far-right groups and parties that have exploited the refugee crisis and sought to fuel fear of migrants.
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