Muslims in Germany are facing increasingly suspicious treatment following this week’s warning that Islamist terrorists were planning attacks, the Central Council of Muslims warned on Saturday.
‘For years we have been hearing vague terrorist warnings which spread horror and fear,’ the Council’s head, Aiman Mazyek, told German Press Agency dpa.
‘Muslims are doubly scared - because they could become victims of such an attack, and since general suspicions are formed in this way,’ Mazyek added.
On Saturday Spiegel magazine reported an alleged plot to storm the Reichstag parliament building by armed terrorists, whilst earlier in the week Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere warned of ‘concrete’ indications that militant Islamists were planning attacks in Germany.
Security was stepped up at airports and railway stations across the country.
Mayzek criticized the way in which the government had handled news of a suspicious suitcase bound for Germany at a Namibian airport, which had turned out to be a dummy device, used for test purposes.
‘Terrorists are caught by clever investigative techniques, not through emotionally charged terror warnings and ... fake bombs,’ Mazyek said.
The Islamic leader also demanded better protection for Islamic prayer houses, after an apparent arson attack on a mosque in Berlin took place on Friday - an attack which he said was the fourth in half a year.
‘Not a week goes by without the violation of a mosque,’ Mayzek said. ‘The current terrorist hysteria is worsening the climate, reducing solidarity with Muslims and strengthening those people who plan to attack them.’
In particular, Mayzek criticized Berlin Senator Ehrhart Koerting who called earlier this week for neighbourhood vigilance if, for example, ‘three strange-looking people move in ... who only speak Arabic or a foreign language we don’t understand.’
‘Muslims are scared in their own country,’ the Muslim leader said. '(Koerting) should do more to protect Muslim prayer houses and please make fewer of these thoughtless statements.’
The Central Council of Muslims unites a total of 19 Muslim organizations in Germany.