Neo-Nazis send threatening messages to mosque in Germany

A mosque in the central German city of Göttingen on Thursday received a letter containing anti-Muslim threats featuring swastikas and other neo-Nazi symbols.

Muhammad Ibrahim Bash, head of the Association of Mosques, said the letter contained racist and anti-Islamic language, and its neo-Nazi name was “NSU 2.0”.

“Our mosque community and the Muslims of Göttingen are concerned because of the continuing threats of violence,” he said, adding that this is the second threatening letter they have received in several months.

In September last year, unidentified suspects painted a swastika on the wall of the mosque, which is run by the Turkish Muslim group DITIB.

“NSU 2.0” stands for the National Socialist Underground, a neo-Nazi terrorist group uncovered in 2011 that killed 10 people and carried out bomb attacks targeting immigrants.

Germany has witnessed an increase in racism and Islamophobia in recent years, fueled by the propaganda of far-right groups that are exploiting the refugee crisis and trying to stoke fear of immigrants.

According to the latest data, the police recorded no less than 610 Islamophobic hate crimes in 2022 across the country.

About 62 mosques were attacked between January and December last year, and at least 39 people were injured due to anti-Muslim violence.

The figures also included dozens of hate crimes against Muslims, intimidation, vandalism and property damage.

With a population of over 84 million, Germany has the second largest Muslim population in Western Europe after France. It is home to nearly 5 million Muslims, according to official figures.