Elham Asaad Buaras
Germany recorded 231 criminal offences targeting Muslims in the first six months of this year, official figures show, amid growing concerns over anti-Muslim hostility across the country.
Provisional figures released by the German government show offences classified under its “Islamophobia” category of politically motivated crime, in response to a parliamentary inquiry by Green lawmakers. The data may be revised as cases are added or reclassified.
Police identified 127 suspects in connection with the offences, but no arrests were recorded, according to the figures.
Among the 231 cases were 11 violent offences, nine involving coercion or threats, 44 cases of incitement to hatred and 13 involving the use of symbols linked to unconstitutional organisations.
A further three cases involved property damage, while 47 were classified as other offences.
Of the total, 33 offences were committed online, highlighting the role of social media and the internet in the spread of Islamophobia.
Although the latest figures are lower than those recorded in 2025, they still represent hundreds of offences in just six months.
German authorities registered 489 anti-Muslim offences in the first half of 2025, followed by a further 543 in the second half.
The government cautioned that comparisons could change as the latest figures are updated.
Islamophobia incidents are also recorded separately by Germany’s Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency, which reported cases across a range of areas of everyday life.
The largest number involved the labour market, with 58 reports, followed by 42 cases involving private services and access to goods.
Other incidents were reported in education, healthcare, public spaces, law enforcement and the judiciary.
The criminal offences are recorded through Germany’s police reporting system for politically motivated crime, known as KPMD-PMK.
Ali Mete, Secretary-General of the Islamic Community Milli Gorus (IGMG), said the figures demonstrated that anti-Muslim hostility remained a serious problem.
“231 registered criminal offences in the first half-year alone are 231 cases too many,” Mete told IslamiQ.
He warned that the official figures could underestimate the scale of the problem because not every incident is reported to police or subsequently classified as anti-Muslim.
Mete also stressed the importance of ensuring victims are taken seriously and receive consistent protection from the authorities.
