Over one-quarter of Muslims in Germany report discrimination

More than one-quarter of Muslims in Germany report experiencing discrimination, a major survey found on Tuesday.

The annual Socio-economic Panel (SOEP) study by the German Institute for Economic Research found that 13.1% of around 30,000 respondents nationwide said they had faced discrimination in the past 12 months.

Among Muslims, the figure rose to 28.6%, far higher than the 10.1% for non-Muslims.

The rate was even higher for Muslim women who wear headscarves, with more than 38% reporting facing discrimination within the past year.

The data were collected between May 2021 and January 2023, with the authors warning that the study was therefore shaped by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

"The extent of discrimination is a severe test for our country," said Ferda Ataman, the independent federal commissioner for anti-discrimination.

Asked about the reason they believed they faced discrimination, respondents cited racism and ethnicity most frequently, forming 41.9% of cases. 

Other reasons included appearance (25.9%) and gender or gender identity (23.8%).

Survey participants said they faced discrimination in daily situations, such as shopping, at the bank, in restaurants or at the entrance to nightclubs.

The SOEP is one of the most reliable and comprehensive sources for social science research in Germany, surveying the same individuals or households over several years, thus allowing conclusions to be drawn about long-term trends.

However, the effort involved in processing the data means that the publication of the results is subject to a certain delay.