Germany sees sharp rise in mosque attacks
Mosque attacks in Germany soar amid rising Islamophobia, DITIB calls for unity and action
BERLIN (MNTV) – Mosque attacks in Germany surged to 175 in 2024, marking a fourfold increase since 2021, according to Muharrem Kuzey, head of the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DITIB).
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Kuzey highlighted a troubling escalation in Islamophobic hate crimes, particularly after the onset of the Israel-Palestine conflict in October 2023.
DITIB’s Anti-Discrimination Bureau reported that 96% of the targeted mosques are operated by the union, which oversees around 1,000 mosques in Germany.
About 60% of the incidents involved threatening letters or emails, with others including property damage and graffiti of illegal symbols like swastikas.
The attacks, Kuzey said, reflect the broader climate of Islamophobia in Europe, which has intensified since the Gaza conflict began.
“Since October 7, 2023, the everyday life of Muslim communities in Europe has fundamentally shifted,” said Aristotle Kallis, a professor at Keele University. He described the surge in Islamophobia as a lasting and systemic change, rather than a temporary spike.
Germany’s Interior Ministry recorded a 28% rise in hate crimes in 2024, with xenophobic offenses increasing by 29% to 19,481.
Crimes targeting Muslims jumped by 26%, reaching 1,848 incidents.
Kuzey revealed that mosque attacks spiked dramatically after October, with 43 attacks recorded earlier in the year and 100 in the last three months of 2023.
Kuzey stressed the importance of addressing these challenges through dialogue and collaboration.
“We share these figures with politicians and community leaders, advocating for measures to tackle Islamophobia and foster coexistence,” he said. He also called for joint action against xenophobia in all forms, including cooperation with Jewish organizations in Germany.
Emphasizing that Muslims are integral to German society, Kuzey highlighted the community’s contributions across various fields.
“These attacks won’t deter us, but we must work harder to prevent them by promoting multiculturalism and coexistence,” he added.
DITIB has installed security cameras at mosques and is working closely with authorities to ensure perpetrators are prosecuted.
“We remain hopeful for the future and will continue supporting coexistence through our initiatives,” Kuzey concluded.
More than 3,000 Islamophobia incidents were recorded in 2024 in Germany, including verbal attacks, women being spat on and mosques being defaced, according to a civil society report by Claim, a prominent human rights organization.
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