Strong Reaction from 5 Associations to Election Posters Targeting Muslims in Berlin

Ahead of the upcoming state parliament elections in Berlin, the use of rhetoric and posters targeting Islam and Muslims in some political parties' election campaigns drew a strong reaction from five civil society organizations operating in the city.

Berlin Rize Kültür ve Dayanışma Derneği, Saadet Berlin e.V., Karadeniz Kültür Derneği, Muslimischer Wohlfahrtsverband, and UTG – Union Türkischer Gemeinden, in a joint statement, criticized the targeting of Islam and Muslims in political election campaigns.

The associations emphasized that making Islam the center of political debates and election campaigns in every election period harms social cohesion.

“A political strategy that divides society”

In the joint statement, it was stated that using Islam and Muslims as a political tool in election campaigns is wrong, and the following views were expressed:

“Making Islam a subject of political election campaigns before every election is the wrong path. Such a strategy divides society, fuels prejudices, and ultimately strengthens the hand of political forces that benefit from fear, exclusion, and social polarization.”

The statement expressed that in a multicultural city like Berlin, where different cultures and faiths coexist, there is a need for unity and solidarity, not social polarization.

“Dialogue must prevent animosity”

The civil society organizations stated that politics should refrain from rhetoric that divides society and targets specific segments, and called for a solution- and dialogue-oriented political approach.

The statement included the following remarks:

“Especially in a city with high diversity like Berlin, we need unity instead of division, dialogue instead of animosity, and real solutions instead of populist slogans.”

The associations drew attention to the fact that a political approach that makes Islam or Muslims a tool for election campaigns can increase fear and prejudice in society.

“Politics should not pit people against each other”

The joint statement also emphasized that political campaigns targeting Muslims could, in the long run, pave the way for the strengthening of far-right and right-wing populist movements.

“Those who make Islam or Muslims a tool of election campaigns should not be surprised later why extremist and right-wing populist parties gain more support,” the statement said, adding that the fundamental duty of politics is not to pit different segments of society against each other, but to bring them together.

The five associations called on political parties in Berlin to use more responsible, inclusive, and peace-building language during the election process.

“Politics should not incite people against each other; it should bring people together.”