Vile attacks on over 40 mosques in Germany amid escalating Israeli-Hamas war
The increasing Islamophobia in European nations is resulting in a surge of attacks on sacred sites. As the Israeli-Gaza conflict has persisted since Oct. 7, numerous mosques have been targeted with acts of provocation. The general secretary of Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DITIB) has called on the German government to prioritize the security of mosques
The rising Islamophobia in European nations is leading to an increase in attacks on sacred sites. As the Israeli-Gaza conflict has persisted since Oct. 7, numerous mosques have become targets of acts of provocation.
Eyup Kalyon, the general secretary of the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DITIB), has expressed deep concern over the escalating attacks on mosques in Germany. Kalyon pointed out that, since the beginning of 2023, approximately half of the attacks on 81 mosques nationwide occurred after the outbreak of conflicts between Israel and Palestine on Oct. 7.
Kalyon highlighted a significant uptick in attacks on German mosques, particularly since the commencement of the Israel-Palestine conflict. He attributed the surge in attacks to the hostile language being used in public discourse concerning Muslims. Kalyon indicated that provocations targeting mosques are becoming increasingly common.
"Our mosques are being defaced with Neonazi symbols, and copies of our sacred book, the Quran, are being burnt and discarded in front of mosques," Kalyon stated.
"In our state of North Rhine-Westphalia, a total of seven mosques have received insulting and threatening letters, along with pieces of pork and burnt pages of the Quran. This constitutes a clear act of provocation," he added.
APPEAL TO THE GOVERNMENT
The general secretary of DITIB has called on the German government to prioritize the security of mosques. Kalyon underscored the importance of ensuring mosques' safety to allow Muslims to practice their religion freely, urging the government to provide ongoing security measures for mosques, similar to those in place for other places of worship.
Kalyon also noted that mosque leaders are responding to these provocations with prudence and maintaining continuous communication with law enforcement agencies. He mentioned that DITIB routinely monitors and reports on these attacks, expressing their concerns to the public and politicians.
WHAT HAPPENED
Hamas’ military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, announced that they launched a comprehensive attack against Israel called “Al-Aqsa Flood” on the morning of Oct. 7.
While thousands of rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel, armed groups entered the settlements in the region. The Israeli army also launched an attack on the Gaza Strip with dozens of warplanes. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that Israel killed 10,022 people, including 4,104 children, 2,641 women, and 397 elderly people. It injured at least 32,000 people in its attacks on Gaza.
It was reported that 1,400 Israelis, including 324 soldiers, were killed and 5,132 Israelis were wounded in the attacks from Gaza.
The Israeli army hit Damascus and Aleppo airports. As the Middle East is once again turning into a bloodbath, a deadline has been set for nearly 2.5 million Palestinians to leave the blockaded Gaza.
In the occupied West Bank, 106 Palestinians were killed in attacks by Israeli forces and Jewish settlers. In Israel’s attacks on Gaza, 48 journalists were killed.
In the clashes between the Israeli army and Hezbollah on the Israel-Lebanon border since Oct. 8, 55 Hezbollah members and 4 civilians, one of whom was a journalist, were killed. Three Israeli soldiers and one Israeli civilian were killed in the attacks organized by Lebanon.
Most recently, Israel attacked the Jabalia Refugee Camp in Gaza, killing civilians.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he was breaking off all contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu because of Israeli attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Source: Anadolu Agency
