Christian, non-Muslim asylum seekers in Germany experiencing widespread harassment

CB Condez Thursday, May 12, 2016

A report by six non-government organizations says that Christians and non-Muslim asylum-seekers in Germany are being bullied and harassed by other migrants and even security personnel, and the call for separate housing seems to become more urgent.

"Our political leaders have not taken appropriate measures to protect the Christian minority," The Washington Post quotes the statement of Open Doors, an organization that tries to protect persecuted Christians worldwide. "The impression that this dramatic development is being suppressed and ignored has solidified."

Migrants queue on a street to enter the compound outside the Berlin Office of Health and Social Affairs (LAGESO) for their registration process in Berlin, Germany, December 9, 2015. | REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

The organizations interviewed 231 Christian migrants now residing in Germany's asylum centers, majority of whom came from Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq. According to RT, the researchers found out that 88 percent of the respondents experienced being harassed by Muslim asylum seekers because of religion. Moreover, 50 percent claimed to have been harassed by the asylum centers' guards, who are said to be mostly Muslim. Of those interviewed, 42 percent said they had insults thrown at them, while 37 percent said they had incurred physical injuries. Death threats were received by 32 percent of the respondents.

According to the report, Action on Behalf of Persecuted Christians and the Needy, another organization that was part of survey, said that somewhere around 40,000 refugees who belong to religious minorities, including Christians, experience harassment in one form or another in Germany asylum centers because of religion. Those who fled their homes in hopes of finding a safer place to live have reportedly been surprised to find out that they are still at risk of physical and verbal abuse from other migrants and even guards.

"'Discrimination and violence against Christian refugees in refugee centers happens far more frequently than this testimony," the statement by Open Doors reads. "Although media, religious leaders and assistants and human rights organisations, many note the increasing number of documented assaults by Muslim refugees and security personnel in the accommodation, policymakers have generally not taken sufficient measures to protect the Christian minority."

Markus Rode of Open Doors Germany said that the result of the study is just "the tip of the iceberg."

In the organization's press release, they listed several suggestions, including the need to find out people's religious affiliation and consider this information when assigning accommodations. Moreover, they are suggesting that regular training be provided to the refugee centers' staff and security personnel regarding religious conflicts and protection of religious minorities. The number of non-Muslim custodial staff members should also be increased.