More than a quarter of Muslims in Germany report experiencing discrimination, a major survey showed on Tuesday.
The annual study by the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) of the German Institute for Economic Research found that 13.1 percent of some 30,000 respondents nationwide said they had faced discrimination in the past 12 months.
Among Muslims, that figure rose to 28.6 percent, far higher than the 10.1 percent for non-Muslims.
The rate was even higher among Muslim women who wear headscarves, with more than 38 percent reporting that they had faced discrimination in the past year.
The data was collected between May 2021 and January 2023, and the authors caution that the study is therefore shaped by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
– The extent of discrimination is a serious test for our country – said Ferda Ataman, independent federal commissioner for combating discrimination.
When asked about the reason for which they believe they face discrimination, respondents most often cited racism and ethnicity, which accounts for 41.9 percent of cases.
Other reasons included appearance (25.9 percent) and gender or gender identity (23.8 percent).
The participants of the survey said that they face discrimination in everyday situations, such as shopping, in the bank, 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, allowing conclusions to be drawn about long-term trends.
However, the effort required to process the data means that the publication of results is subject to some delay.
(Vijesti.ba/Fena)
