The hate campaign over Ramzan

Muslims pray outside a mosque in Berlin, a day after it was set on fire in March this year.

As the Islamic month of Ramzan comes to an end, fasting Muslims face new attacks from right-wing politicians and supporters in European countries. In the past, leaders in Europe across the political spectrum used to greet their fellow Muslim citizens when they started fasting and also invite them to public iftar dinners to break the fast together. But all that appears to be changing.

This year, the Islamic month has become a target, especially of far-right parties that fuel Islamophobia and anti-Muslim bigotry. A few days ago, the right-wing Freedom Party of Austria, which is part of the current government, spread a poster on social media, saying, “Ramzan in school — no eating, no drinking, no learning.” It included a picture of a young girl with a headscarf. A local Freedom Party politician, who shared the picture, claimed that the month of Ramzan “reveals a parallel society” and that “Muslim students in German schools refuse to participate in excursions or exams”.

Erika Steinbach, a former conservative politician, attacked German Chancellor Angela Merkel and claimed that she cared about Ramzan but not about Christian holidays such as Pentecost.

Forced holiday

The German far-right exploited Ramzan for its agenda too. Martin Sichert, an MP of the Alternative for Germany, demanded that employers send Muslim building workers and doctors to “forced holiday”. A year ago, the party claimed that Muslims are “easily irritated” during Ramzan.

“People have religious freedom here. I do not understand why these right-wing politicians feel disturbed when Muslims fast. We continue our work, attend school or university. Christians fast too, and we as Muslims respect that,” said Rahela Qayoumi, 28, a sales assistant from Stuttgart.

Leading German media stations have reported about Ramzan and explained its practices in detail this time. This has irked many right-wing supporters and social media troll factories. “Why are all obsessed with this Ramzan-mania?” one person wrote. “I’m not interested in the practices of this stupid religion from desert. I will stop following your channel,” another stated. Comments like these are not an exception, but mostly the norm on social media.

Ali Yildiz, 29, a teacher from the city of Innsbruck, is upset with the attacks on students with a Muslim background. “First of all, many Muslim students do not fast because they are too young, so they don’t have to. Secondly, I haven’t ever seen any student protesting or denying to write exams because he or she is fasting,” he said.

“We have many problems in European societies, such as alcoholism and other issues, even in schools. But all those societal issues do not seem to be important for these people. Instead, it just has become an easy and common thing to attack Muslims,” he said.

He, however, added that the awareness among non-Muslims about Ramzan is now higher, thanks to increased media attention, and everyone has not succumbed to the political propaganda.

“I remember that a few years ago, nobody really knew what Ramzan was. When I started fasting, all my schoolmates or co-workers were surprised and asked many questions,” said Mr. Yildiz. According to him, people’s perception has changed nowadays. “Sometimes even strangers come to me and wish a happy Ramzan while my colleagues apologise when they drink water in front of me.”