Berlin’s SPD and CDU Faction Leaders Discuss Plans to Combat Islamophobia
Berlin’s SPD and CDU faction leaders, Raed Saleh and Dirk Stettner, respectively, briefed the press on the latest plans of the black-red Senate to address the theme of political priorities. According to the German Press Agency (dpa), Saleh stated that “like many other religions, Muslims and Muslim women, as well as their religion, are a fixed and no longer removable part of Berlin.”
The concern of the capital’s politics is that the mentioned groups cannot “live freely” in the open-minded city. Therefore, a plan has been made to support all Berliners who can identify with the city and to remind of the social realities, by introducing the 15th of March as a “Remembrance Day against Islamophobia” starting from next year.
Berlin’s statistics from the previous year show that out of the approximately 3.9 million Berliners, 11.7% were registered as Evangelical and 6.9% as Catholic. Additionally, further numbers reveal that most Berliners with an Arab migration background come from Syria (59,871 people), followed by those from Lebanon (32,797 people). As of the end of December 2023, there lived “182,635 people with an Arab migration background” in the city, making up 4.7% of the population.
The Senate recognized the need to establish a “crisis credit” for migrants living in the city at the beginning of the year. The Berlin Morning Post reported on a demand of 900 million euros alone in the year 2026. The Berlin.de website informs about the possibilities of Muslim worship, stating that “around 80 prayer houses are available for Muslims in Berlin, often in rear buildings or factory spaces. Additionally, some representative mosques have emerged in recent years, enriching the city’s landscape and bringing a touch of the Orient to Berlin.”
The largest prayer house can be found in the Neukölln district since 2005, the Şehitlik Mosque, which provides space for 1,500 believers. On March 12, the RBB reported that Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier would visit the Lahore Ahmadiyya Mosque in the Wilmersdorf district of Berlin on Wednesday evening to participate in the traditional breaking of the fast during Ramadan.
The Mitte district office initiated a current theme-related campaign: Berlin, Rosenthaler Platz in Mitte
The broadcaster now reports on the announced Senate plans:
“The 15th of March will be celebrated in Berlin from now on as an action and remembrance day against Islamophobia. This was announced by the chairmen of the two government factions in the House of Representatives, Raed Saleh (SPD) and Dirk Stettner (CDU), on Monday in connection with the Muslim sugar festival reported by the German Press Agency. The black-red coalition will submit a corresponding bill to the parliament in the coming weeks.”
CDU politician Stettner emphasized in a dpa quote that Berlin “stands for diversity and the unity of all religions” subjectively explaining further:
“With the introduction of the 15th of March as a fixed remembrance and action day against Islamophobia, we will strengthen social cohesion.”
To make the action day “visible” the Senate will, according to the Islam.iq website, “seek dialogue with Berlin’s mosque communities.” Planned are from 2026 “encounters and a day of open mosques in the context of the 15th of March, to promote public awareness.”
“The 15th of March will be another day that connects Berlin with the world” said the joint statement by Saleh and Stettner to the German Press Agency. The goal is: “United in the fight against discrimination, violence, hate and incitement.