Anti-Muslim Racism

A brief introduction for anyone who wants to stand up against exclusion and advocate for equal opportunity: A blog post for the Day Against Anti-Muslim Racism by Makieu Daniels and Leah Hanraths, aimed at raising awareness and providing actionable steps for those not personally affected by this form of discrimination.

Anti-Muslim racism is a long-standing phenomenon: it refers to the discrimination against Muslim people and those perceived as Muslim[1]. In public discourse, anti-Muslim racism—known as "Islamophobia" until about 10 years ago—was systematically spread and amplified by media and politics, particularly following the terrorist attacks in the US on September 11, 2001. The topic gained renewed attention in Europe starting in 2015 with the beginning of the war in Syria and the arrival of refugees.

Experiences of discrimination and violence are part of everyday reality

Due to current events like the racially motivated attack in Hanau, anti-Muslim racism is often only addressed in isolated instances rather than as a structural problem, even though it is a constant part of the experience for Muslim people and those perceived as Muslim who are affected by this form of discrimination. Today, in the summer of 2024, addressing anti-Muslim racism remains of critical importance: more than 5 million Muslims live in Germany. In 2023, an average of more than five attacks per day were committed against Muslim people and those perceived as Muslim in Germany—an increase of 114 percent compared to the previous year (SZ.de 2024). Experiences of discrimination and violence are therefore part of the everyday reality for many people.

We, Leah and Makieu, are increasingly focusing on this topic as part of our professional work on "Anti-Racism and Critical Whiteness" at EAF Berlin. With this post, we want to provide an entry point for everyone who wishes to stand up against anti-Muslim racism and support Muslim people in our society. Leah and Makieu both identify as women of color and experience racism themselves, but they are not directly affected by anti-Muslim racism.

What is anti-Muslim racism? Who is affected by it?

• Anti-Muslim racism is a subcategory of "racism," describing the structural devaluation and oppression of people based on racialized characteristics such as skin color, ethnic origin, name, and religious affiliation, positioning racialized people as "essentially different."
• It is based on the assumption that Islam, the values represented by Islam, and therefore Muslim people themselves, are irreconcilably "different" compared to the prevailing values of the majority society (e.g., Christian-German). In this context, Islam is also often portrayed as an "enemy image" that threatens the values and cultural traditions held by the perceived majority society.
• It affects people who are perceived as Muslim and who are of the Muslim faith, linking (assumed) religious affiliation with biological characteristics (racialization). In Germany, women are disproportionately affected by crimes motivated by anti-Muslim racism.
• It can also be directed at places associated with Muslims, such as mosques, shops, and restaurants.

All these assumptions lead to conscious and unconscious stereotypes and prejudices, which can result in discriminatory and exclusionary individual actions, societal structures, organizational processes, political demands and measures, as well as media coverage.

How does anti-Muslim racism affect those targeted?

Muslim people and those perceived as Muslim repeatedly suffer from various types of discrimination in their daily lives—ranging from micro-aggressions and structural exclusion to devaluation and acts of violence. These experiences of discrimination occur on different levels:

• On an individual and interpersonal level, anti-Muslim racism can lead to those affected having negative experiences in social interactions. For example, people may cross to the other side of the street when they encounter individuals perceived as Muslim. This can range from assumptions that they lack language skills to insults and physical attacks.
• On a structural level, anti-Muslim racism results in affected individuals having fewer opportunities to be invited to job interviews (IZA 2016), being offered housing less frequently (BAMF 2020), and experiencing more negative encounters within the healthcare system (DeZiM 2023).
• On an institutional level, anti-Muslim racism is evident in the way individuals perceived as Muslim are treated differently during border, security, and police checks, where they are stopped more frequently and, above all, searched more rigorously (racial profiling). One reason for this is that, in these contexts, individuals perceived as Muslim are increasingly criminalized. This, in turn, impacts asylum and migration policy demands and measures, which use the actions of individuals from Muslim-majority countries who have committed crimes to justify tightening immigration laws for all Muslims.

What can we do to combat anti-Muslim racism?

While structural problems naturally require structural solutions, there are also measures that organizations, companies, and individual colleagues and team members can take in the workplace to ensure that people who are Muslim or perceived as Muslim are included and valued:

• As individuals, colleagues, and team members not affected by anti-Muslim racism, we can act as points of contact and allies to support those who are. This means learning about and considering the lived realities of Muslim people in everyday life, for example by reaching out to them and asking if and what kind of support they need—whether in general or following a specific incident.
• As a team, we can include all religious holidays and traditions in an intercultural calendar and take them into account when actively shaping collaboration and project planning.
• As organizations and companies, we can train employees and managers on these topics and develop an awareness of how unconscious biases and assumptions affect the equitable design of internal processes, such as recruitment and promotion.

And one final, clear demand: It is the responsibility of those not affected by anti-Muslim racism, and especially of those in leadership positions, to address this form of discrimination within organizations and companies and to find structural solutions. The responsibility for raising awareness about anti-Muslim racism lies with them, not with Muslim people or those perceived as Muslim.

Considering religious and ethnic diversity in the company

As companies and organizations, we must learn to actively consider, value, and shape religious and ethnic diversity, and to take both preventive and decisive action against discrimination in our workplaces so that all colleagues feel they belong and can contribute their strengths. These are the prerequisites for standing together for a fair and inclusive society.

For those affected, safe spaces can be helpful in everyday life, where they can share their experiences of discrimination and strategies for dealing with it. Furthermore, it can be supportive in the daily work routine to confide in colleagues and hold them accountable to be an ally[2].

Does your organization need support in taking action against anti-Muslim racism?

EAF Berlin uses a critical approach to racism to help companies, organizations, and institutions identify and counter racism within their environments. We build awareness of how racism affects individuals, as well as entire groups and societies. Our work is practical and experience-based, using dialogue and discussion to encourage shifts in perspective and reflection, enabling our clients to establish sustainable anti-racist attitudes and structures.

Want to learn more about anti-Muslim racism? Here is a selection of our recommendations:

1. Mekka hier, Mekka da | Melina Borčak | Hanser (hanser-literaturverlage.de)
2. It's Not About the Burqa by Mariam Khan - Pan Macmillan
3. Muslimaniac. Die Karriere eines Feindbildes – Verbrecher Verlag
4. Eure Heimat ist unser Albtraum - Taschenbuch | ULLSTEIN
5. Primamuslima - Alle Episoden | BR Podcast
6. Was ist antimuslimischer Rassismus? | Infodienst Radikalisierungsprävention | bpb.de
7. CLAIM – Allianz gegen Islamfeindlichkeit und Muslimfeindlichkeit (claim-allianz.de)

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[1] In this context, the term "read as" is used to describe how a person is perceived by others and to express the external labels applied to them based on their name or physical characteristics. Common examples include being "read as" female or male, or "read as" white or Black.

Being an ally means supporting those affected by discrimination as equals and standing by their side. You can find tips and suggestions for this here: hateaid.org/allyship/

The Authors

Makieu Daniels is a Junior Expert in organizational development and training. Working with the DEI team, she provides organizational and content-related support for the design and implementation of consulting processes, projects, workshops, and training sessions on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) and diversity strategies for companies and organizations. More about Makieu Daniels.

Leah Hanraths served as a Senior Expert on the EAF Berlin team, supporting companies as a trainer and consultant for equal opportunity and diversity. Her focus areas included unconscious bias and inclusive leadership, empowerment and presentation skills, intersectionality and anti-racism, as well as diversity-oriented organizational development.