Berlin voices concern over surge in racist attacks on Muslims amid Gaza war

Germany on Monday expressed concern over mounting anti-Muslim racism in the country since the start of the Gaza war on Oct. 7.

Any attacks on Muslims in Germany, for religious or other reasons, are “absolutely unacceptable,” government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said at a news conference in Berlin.

“The nearly 5 million Muslims in Germany have every right to be protected …,” he added.

The Berlin-based Alliance Against Islamophobia and Anti-Muslim Hate (CLAIM) warned last week of growing anti-Muslim racism amid the escalating Israel-Palestine conflict in Gaza.

“We are witnessing an intensification of anti-Muslim racism in Germany. This is something we should all be concerned about and needs to be taken seriously,” said Rima Hanano, head of the nongovernmental organization.

CLAIM has documented 53 cases of anti-Muslim threats, violence and discrimination in the last two-and-a-half weeks alone, including 10 attacks on mosques.