The German Institute for Human Rights claims that unfavorable stereotypes and overgeneralizations in media coverage have exacerbated bigotry against Palestinians and those who are thought to be Arab or Muslim.
Amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, Germany’s top human rights organization has warned of a rise in anti-Muslim prejudice and urged politicians and the media to refrain from making damaging generalizations.
A 32-page report by the German Institute for Human Rights (DIMR) on the effects of the Gaza conflict on democracy and human rights was published on Monday. It mainly addressed the rise in antisemitism but also raised worries about an increase in anti-Muslim events.
Basic rights and freedoms have been negatively impacted by oversimplified and unfavorable stereotypes about Muslims in political debate and media coverage since the October 7, 2023 attack by the Palestinian organization Hamas, according to DIMR Director Beate Rudolf.
“It is not always antisemitic behavior for someone to criticize the Israeli government. Supporters of the Palestinians’ right to their own state are not always Hamas sympathizers. She stated during a news conference in Berlin that generalizations only serve to fuel prejudice and antisemitism against Muslims and Palestinians.
According to the data, hate crimes in Germany have doubled to 5,164 cases in 2023 compared to the previous year, and antisemitic events have increased since October 7, 2023.
The last quarter saw more than half of these offenses. Police received 1,997 reports of antisemitic offenses in the first half of 2024.
Preventive actions
In order to combat antisemitism in Germany, DIMR advocated for increased civic involvement, extending preventative initiatives like awareness-raising campaigns in schools and funding initiatives that dispel false information and conspiracies.
The institute also emphasized that limitations on the right to free speech and assembly should only be imposed in extraordinary circumstances that are allowed by law, warning authorities against generalizing too much and disseminating unfavorable stereotypes about Muslims.
“The bans on demonstrations described as ‘pro-Palestinian’ in the months after October 7, 2023 made it difficult for people, especially people with a Palestinian family history, to publicly express their grief for the many civilian victims in Gaza and their solidarity with the civilian population there and to demand an end to the war, and an independent Palestinian state,” the report stated.
German politicians and media frequently ignored the fact that Israeli Jews also participated in several of these demonstrations, promoting the rights and concerns of both sides, according to DIMR specialists.
Politicians and the media adopted the word ‘pro-Palestinian’ in the bans, which led to a generalization of Palestinians as being antisemitic and pro-violence Hamas members. According to the experts, prejudice toward Palestinians and anyone viewed as Arab or Muslim was reinforced by public opinion and social discussions that centered on violent protests.
