It will start with books but could end with houses being burnt or people getting hurt, says chair of European Network Against Racism
With Islamophobia already a major issue in Germany, there are heightened fears within the Muslim community that far-right activists could stage Quran burnings in the country, like the ones seen in other European nations such as Sweden and Denmark.
If that were to happen, it could lead to social disturbances and a spiral of violence, warned Karen Taylor, chairperson of the European Network Against Racism (ENAR).
She called on the government to bring in tough laws to counter violent extremism against Muslims and hoped that Quran burnings would not be allowed in Germany.
“What I expect is that not only people from the Muslim community would rage against these incidents, but the whole population in Germany would see that this is an act of aggression, an act of hatred and discrimination,” Taylor told Anadolu.
She stressed that Quran burnings or desecration should be a “no-go” in Germany.
“Burning books … it will start was out there, (but) at the end it will be houses, or even people that get injured and hurt,” she said.
“So this is definitely for me a no-go and something where not only the government has to react, but the whole society needs to say that this is a no-go.”
After France, Germany has the second-largest Muslim population in Western Europe. The country of over 84 million people is home to nearly 5 million Muslims, according to official figures.
“Islamophobia or anti-Muslim hatred is a reality for most … people with a Muslim background in Germany,” said Taylor.
“So far there are not enough measures against anti-Islam hatred. We need more laws fighting Islamophobia.”
Latest official statistics show there were 258 anti-Muslim crimes in Germany in the first half of this year.
More than a dozen mosques were attacked between January and June, and dozens of Muslims were physically assaulted or verbally harassed on the street or in public places. At least 17 people were injured in these attacks.
Strikingly, the Interior Ministry said it has opened investigations, but no arrests have been made so far.
Most of the crimes were committed in eastern German states, the traditional stronghold of far-right parties, according to the data released by the Interior Ministry in response to a parliamentary question by the opposition Left Party.
However, scores of Islamophobic hate crimes were also registered in the capital Berlin and the western cities of Cologne, Frankfurt and Munich.
Data for 2022 shows German police registered at least 610 Islamophobic hate crimes, including attacks on 62 mosques, with at least 39 people injured.
In 2021, there were at least 662 Islamophobic crimes, including attacks on some 46 mosques, while there were more than 900 Islamophobic hate crimes in 2020, with nearly 80 mosques attacked and at least 48 people wounded.
A recent report by the Independent Group of Experts on Muslim Hostility suggests that at least one-third of Muslims in Germany have experienced hostility because of their religion.
The experts who compiled the report asserted that the real numbers are likely higher, since only 10% of Muslims appear to report hostility and hate crimes against them.
“We need better documentation on how people with Muslim background are being treated ... then decide on measures against the discrimination they face,” said Taylor, emphasizing that a lack of data leads to a lax response.
“The facts show that if we don’t have the figures … a problem doesn’t exist, and if a problem doesn’t exist, we don’t fight it.”
