Rising mosque attacks worry Germany’s Turkish union

The secretary-general of the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DİTİB) is calling on the German public and politicians to take action on the rising anti-Muslim attacks on Turkish mosques in the country.

The DITIB oversees over 800 mosques in Germany, home to the largest Turkish diaspora in Europe.

Eyüp Kalyon says these attacks range from threats to burning the Holy Qu’ran and the malicious delivery of pork to mosques, which is forbidden to eat in Islam.

While these incidents have been reported to the police, authorities have been accused of not paying enough attention to them and even denying the issue.

The DITIB also reported an increase in hate mail. The organisation said it had received at least 17 emails and letters containing hateful and threatening material.

“They try to damage our mosques, to challenge Muslims (to counter the attacks). The DİTİB swiftly reports such attacks to the police….But we are worried. It scares Muslims here, especially children. We expect the German politicians to view this as serious and tackle it,” Kaylon told Anadolu Agency.

In 2023, CLAIM, a network of NGOs monitoring Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred, recorded 1,926 anti-Muslim incidents – marking a 114 per cent rise.

While mosques in Germany reported an increase in Islamophobic-related vandalism, harassment and threats throughout 2023, Kaylon pointed out the attacks have increased even further since Israel’s war on Gaza.

Incidents of targeting Muslims have increased, as well as well as 90 attacks on Islamic religious sites, cemeteries and other institutions.

Most attacks on individuals consisted of verbal abuse and were aimed at women. There were also four attempted murders.

CLAIM also reported a survey showing one in two Germans hold Islamophobic views.

The rise in Islamophobia in Germany comes as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which states in its program that Islam does not belong in Germany, has jumped to second place in polls over the past year, prompting mainstream parties to talk tougher on migration and on Islamic migration in particular.