News Desk
Germany’s Interior Ministry has banned the Islamic Center Hamburg (IZH) and carried out raids on two other Muslim organizations, alleging extremist ties and anti-constitutional activity. Officials framed the measures as part of a broader effort to counter Islamist extremism.
Muslim associations and rights advocates, however, condemned the actions as discriminatory and politically motivated. They argue the ban and raids selectively target Muslim civil society, reinforcing negative stereotypes and fueling anti-Muslim sentiment at the establishment level.
“The government is criminalizing religious life under the guise of security,” one Muslim representative said, warning that such measures risk alienating communities and deepening mistrust.
Rights groups note that Muslims in Germany already face systemic discrimination in employment, housing, and public life. They say the latest crackdown reflects a pattern of Islamophobia embedded in state institutions, where Muslim organizations are disproportionately scrutinized compared to other religious or ideological groups.
The controversy comes amid rising far-right sentiment across Europe, with critics accusing governments of using high-profile bans to project toughness on security while stigmatizing Muslim communities.
Muslims represent the second-largest religious group in the EU, with around 26 million living in the bloc.
In the EU, nearly one in two Muslims said they experience racial discrimination, up from 39% in 2016, according to the latest report of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA).
This was especially felt in the labour and housing markets in the five years before the survey took place in 2022.
The FRA also pointed out that there has been a noticeable increase in anti-Muslim incidents in the EU since the Hamas attacks in Israel in October 2023, particularly in Austria, Belgium and Bulgaria.
For instance, Austria experienced an increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes, with over 1,500 incidents reported in 2023 — the highest number since 2015.
Austria (71%), Germany (68%) and Finland (63%) also reported the highest rates of discrimination among 13 EU countries between 2017 and 2022.
