Germany’s CLAIM Alliance Against Islamophobia recorded 1,926 anti-Muslim incidents over the course of last year, or more than five such incidents per day, according to a report the alliance presented in Berlin on Monday.
The alliance, which is backed by Germany’s Family Ministry, said the figure was more than double that of last year, although it added that the way the data was collected had changed as there were more reporting points last year .
There had been a sharp increase since the October 7 attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip, the report said.
The report includes verbal and physical attacks, discrimination and property damage, but does not include Islamophobic internet content. CLAIM believes that the incidents are seriously underreported.
“The breeding ground for racism has become much greater,” says CLAIM head Rima Hanano. Islamophobia had become more socially acceptable than ever before and could be seen at the center of German society, she said.
About two-thirds of reported cases in 2023 involved verbal attacks, including hate speech and insults, and threatening letters to restaurants whose owners are perceived as Muslim. A total of 90 attacks on these types of places and religious facilities were recorded.
In addition to 1,277 verbal attacks, the report listed 363 cases of discrimination and 286 cases of ‘harmful conduct’, including 178 cases of bodily harm, four attempted murders, 93 cases of property damage, five cases of arson and six other violent acts.
Many cases involved Muslim women and occurred in all areas of life, from house hunting to doctor visits and going to school. Children were often targeted.
