Turkish mosques in Germany face threat of increasing attacks

Turkish mosques in Germany face threat of increasing attacks
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Germany recorded 175 attacks targeting mosques in 2024, marking a fourfold increase since 2021, Daily Sabah reported quoting Muharrem Kuzey, head of the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DITIB). The majority of the affected mosques—96%—are run by DITIB, which oversees about 1,000 mosques nationwide. These attacks range from offensive graffiti and illegal symbols like swastikas to threatening letters and emails, which constitute around 60% of the incidents.

Kuzey highlighted a significant surge in attacks following the outbreak of the Palestine-Israel conflict on October 7, 2023. From October to December 2023 alone, 100 attacks were recorded, compared to 43 earlier that year. He described the situation as an “alarming level” of hostility influenced by Middle Eastern turmoil.

Germany’s Interior Ministry reported a 28% rise in hate crimes in 2024, with xenophobic offenses up 29% and Islamophobic hate crimes increasing 26% to 1,848 cases. Kuzey emphasized that Islamophobia and anti-Semitism are forms of xenophobia and called for joint action with Jewish organizations to combat hate.

Stressing the importance of multiculturalism, Kuzey said, “Muslims are now part of German society… These mosque attacks cannot deter us.” DITIB has installed security cameras and collaborates with authorities to ensure perpetrators face justice, advocating broader societal efforts to promote coexistence.