German Muslims feel growing Islamophia

Ender Cetin, who is the honorary head of Sehitlik mosque offers a tour for students of a police academy. He believes to have made many friends by explaining Islam to non-Muslim visitors. But prejudices often run deep and the mosque frequently receives threatening letters and calls.

Threatening calls and letters are nothing new to Sanchita Basu, either. For several years now she offers help to victims of racism, at schools, at their jobs or in their neighborhood.

Muslim organizations continue to warn of a growing Islamophobia in Germany. And Islam has been the topic of many political debates. While former German president Christian Wulff and prior, Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble called Islam ‘a part of Germany’, their statements cause much commotion and hefty criticism from politicians and the public.

Initiatives, like the annual German Islam Conference, try to enable dialogue between the religions. Schools now offer courses in Islam, universities educate Muslim scholars. Yet politics and the media continue to fuel anti-Islamic sentiment portraying Muslims as violent, radical and unwilling to integrate.

Muslims are surely an important part of German society. But their religious belief continues to cause controversy. Populist parties warn of an Islamization of Europe and far too many agree. The far-right already increasingly targets Muslims with many fearing for their safety.