Germany’s Muslims urge solidarity after mosque attacks

Germany’s Muslim organizations have called on all citizens to unite and speak up against the recent wave of violence targeting mosques across the country. “For decades, Muslims have faced threats from far-right extremists. This threat situation has further exacerbated now by foreign terrorist groups,” representatives of largest Muslim organizations said during a news conference in […]

Germany’s Muslim organizations have called on all citizens to unite and speak up against the recent wave of violence targeting mosques across the country.

“For decades, Muslims have faced threats from far-right extremists. This threat situation has further exacerbated now by foreign terrorist groups,” representatives of largest Muslim organizations said during a news conference in Berlin on Thursday.

At least 27 mosques in Germany were targeted in attacks in the first three months of this year, after the terrorist PYD/PKK group threatened to carry out violent acts to protest against Turkey’s counterterrorism operation in northwestern Syria.

Aiman Mazyek, who chairs the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, underlined that no excuse could be made for such attacks.

“Irrespective of the motivations of the extremists, whether they are racially or religiously motivated, or nationalists, we should take a clear stance against these attacks,” he said.

Mazyek warned that silence of society might further encourage extremists to continue their violence against mosques.

Germany, a country of 81.8 million people, has the second-largest Muslim population in Western Europe after France.

Some 950 Muslims and Muslim institutions were attacked in 2017, according to the official figures.

At least 33 Muslims were injured in these attacks, which included assaults against Muslim women wearing headscarves and attacks against mosques. (aa.com.tr)