The Intersection of Islamophobia, Xenophobia, media narratives and political shifts in Germany
Framing
Muslim migrants and Syrian refugees face discrimination, xenophobia and dehumanisation, driven by the overlapping failures of media, policy and politics.
This report examines the intersections of racialised media narratives, rising xenophobia and political changes in Germany, with a focus on Muslim migrants and refugees, particularly Syrian refugees who have been at the center of public and political debate since the fall of Assad’s regime.
Methodology
This report reflects the combined analyses of two researchers investigating the convergence of biased media portrayals, political opportunism and weak legal protections that are reshaping Germany’s asylum system and social fabric.
The report is made up of two main sections:
German Media, Muslim Migrants and the Politicisation of Policy Responses
Media narratives and anti-Muslim sentiment
The rise of anti-Muslim racism
Regulation of crime reporting under the German Press Code
Gains by the far-right
Policy changes on migration and refugee intake
Conclusion
The fall of Assad and the rise of Xenophobia in Europe: Germany as a catalyst for continental political breakdown
Background on the Syrian conflict
The rise of xenophobia in Germany
Incentivised returns and coercive policies
Cross-border hostility and the rollback of refugee protections
Syrian identity as a political scapegoat
Legal and institutional barriers to asylum in Europe
Conclusion
This is followed by joint recommendations.
Both sections use qualitative methods. The first study analyses how German media narratives, rising anti-Muslim sentiment and changes in policy intersect. It focuses on how failures to uphold the German Press Code in crime reporting reinforce public associations between migration and security threats, bolster far-right agendas and influence migration and refugee policies affecting Muslim migrants and refugees in Germany. The second study examines political rhetoric and legal shifts on asylum policy amid growing support for right-wing parties and actors.
This research primarily covers developments in Germany from 2020 to 2025 a period marked by significant political changes and intensified public debates on migration.
German Media, Muslim Migrants, and Politicization of Policy Responses
By: Ruqia Hazrati
Media narratives and anti-Muslim sentiment
Germany remains a particularly challenging country for Muslims, with the media playing a significant role in shaping that reality. Despite over 5.5 million Muslims living in Germany, Muslims remain underrepresented in the German media and are often depicted in connection with criminal or unlawful behaviours. This lack of balanced representation contributes to widespread anti-Muslim sentiment, which experts attribute to a homogenous media landscape and coverage that frequently emphasizes terrorism, conflict, and social tension (1).
Supporting this, a 2023 study found that 37% of Islam-related content in German print media framed Islam in the context of terrorism, war, and political unrest. In contrast, Muslim societies received little to no coverage in areas such as the economy and education. When social issues were addressed, the focus often centered on stereotypical themes, including Muslim women’s rights and attire (2).
Additionally, in crime reporting, the media often go beyond mentioning a suspect’s affiliation to Islam by also emphasizing their migration or refugee status, further reinforcing the perceived link between migration and criminality. To exemplify, Tagesschau’s reporting on the Aschaffenburg knife attack prominently identified the suspect as an “Afghan man,” (3) repeatedly referencing his nationality and asylum status in ways that reinforced negative associations. A similar pattern emerged in WDR’s coverage of the Magdeburg incident (4), where the suspect’s Saudi origin and asylum background were emphasized. In the days that followed, several assaults were reported in the capital of Saxony-Anhalt, targeting individuals perceived as migrants, which points to escalated hatred against migrants following such portrayals in crime coverage by news outlets (5). Moreover, crimes involving Muslim immigrants or refugees often receive more prolonged and intense coverage than similar incidents involving non-Muslim perpetrators, contributing to a climate of fear, othering, and mistrust.
Recent surveys from 2024 show that young Muslims are more frequently subjected to police stops on the street compared to older Muslims, while they are less often stopped when driving. The findings suggest different treatment by law enforcement based on background. In particular, Muslim respondents from sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa reported higher rates of identity checks (6).
These findings reflect broader patterns of racialized policing that align with the public narratives promoted by mainstream media and right-wing journalists. For example, in April 2025, right-wing journalist Beatrice Achterberg claimed in an online debate that “the connection between particular countries of origin and an increased readiness of violence is obvious,” singling out young men from “Muslim-influenced countries” as especially prone to criminal behavior. Her comments, later promoted as a pull quote on social media, exemplify how media rhetoric can legitimize and normalize discriminatory assumptions that appear to manifest in policing practices targeting specific groups (7).
For decades, the German media has been criticized for its selective and often biased portrayal of Muslims. Critics argue that this type of coverage perpetuates harmful stereotypes and overlooks the broader societal consequences of Islamophobia. Journalists, however, often dismiss these concerns, defending their reporting as a necessary reflection of societal realities. In response to such criticism, one journalist justified the use of “scandalous” language in media coverage of Muslims, framing it as an honest portrayal of the challenges facing German society (8).
These justifications show a broader pattern in the media of confusing responsible journalism with simply repeating cliches without questioning them.
Rising Anti-muslim racism
Germany ranks among the worst countries in Europe for anti-Muslim racism. A 2023 study placed Germany second only to Austria (9). Recent data from the CLAIM network's 2024 report indicated a record of 3,080 anti-Muslim incidents in 2024, a 60% increase from the 1,926 cases in 2023. This equates to more than eight reported incidents per day, ranging from verbal abuse and discrimination to violent physical attacks (10).
The report highlights that anti-Muslim racism is not a marginal issue, as it affects nearly every aspect of life for 5.5 million Muslims in the country. Mosques have been repeatedly targeted, including a notable arson attempt on a Wuppertal mosque in 2019. Discrimination also permeates education, where Muslim students face bullying that undermines their well-being and academic engagement. In healthcare and public services, biased treatment of Muslim individuals has been documented. The housing market reflects similar patterns, with studies from cities like Berlin and Hamburg revealing that Muslim applicants are often denied rentals due to their religion or ethnicity. Online platforms further intensify this hostile environment, as hate speech and Islamophobic rhetoric flourish across social media forums and comment sections (11).
Moreover, this trend, which links migration and Islam to national security, has ignited a wave of intolerance and violent incidents toward migrants and refugees across Germany. Notable examples include the 2022 Hanau shooting, in which a far-right extremist killed nine people of migrant backgrounds; the 2024 Hanover refugee shelter arson that left several people injured, and in another instance in early 2025, a 21-year-old German citizen was arrested for allegedly planning an attack on a refugee camp in Brandenburg (12). These incidents reflect a dangerous escalation of hate-fueled violence rooted in broader societal narratives of fear and exclusion. Despite the gravity and ideological motivation of these attacks, many of them were not labeled as terrorism by mainstream media outlets. This highlights a double standard in coverage that downplays far-right violence while amplifying crimes linked to Muslim, migrant, and refugee suspects, particularly those perceived as Muslim. While this framing most acutely impacts Muslim communities, it also contributes to broader stigmatization of other racialized or marginalized groups.
This climate of exclusion has normalized suspicion toward Muslim migrant and refugee communities and has influenced political discourse, institutional policy, and daily social interactions. The media’s selective coverage of crime and its persistent framing of migration as a security threat fuel public fear, resentment, and hostility.
These narratives not only shape public perceptions but also create divisions within migrant and refugee communities themselves. Following high-profile crimes involving Muslim asylum seekers, social media discourse often generalizes blame, falsely attributing collective guilt to entire communities based on shared religion or nationality. This fosters the spread of hate, dehumanization, and discriminatory rhetoric, amounting to incitement against particular groups.
Muslim women, especially those who wear visible religious symbols like headscarves, are disproportionately affected. They face compounded discrimination that limits their access to employment and hinders full participation in public and social life. This intersectional bias deepens marginalization and undermines efforts toward integration, cohesion, and equality.
Regulation of crime reporting in the German press code
Research highlights the media as a significant contributing factor in reinforcing racism and shaping perceptions of migrants and refugees as 'aliens' in Germany (13). Media-fuelled narratives contribute to a broader perception of Islam as inherently threatening, which was supported in public opinion data in 2023. According to the Bertelsmann Stiftung’s Religion Monitor, in 2023, 52 percent of non-Muslim respondents in Germany reported perceiving Islam as a threat (14).
The German Press Code (2017) serves as the primary legal framework governing journalistic work in Germany. In relation to criminal reporting, the code emphasizes transparency and accountability, ensuring the public's right to be informed about crimes and ongoing investigations. Guideline 8.2 of the Code addresses the publication of names, photographs, and other identifying information of suspects or perpetrators, under the condition that the public interest outweighs the protection of these individuals' rights. However, the media's criminal reporting often discloses these personal details about perpetrators who are already in the custody of the police or arrested. This information extends beyond their names, including details such as their religious beliefs, nationality, and residency status, especially if the involved individuals are associated with migration, refugee, and asylum profiles. This occurs despite Guideline 12.1 of the Code on reporting crimes clearly states:
“When reporting on crimes, it must be ensured that any reference to a suspect’s or perpetrator’s membership of ethnic, religious or other minority groups does not result in a discriminatory generalisation of individual misconduct. As a rule, membership of a minority group shall not be mentioned, unless this is in the legitimate interest of the general public. In particular, it must be borne in mind that such references could stir up prejudices against minorities.”
These guidelines are intended to mitigate the risks of stereotyping and stigmatization, aiming to protect all residents while enabling the media to carry out its watchdog role responsibly. In particular, they seek to prevent the unfair portrayal of vulnerable groups, such as Muslim immigrants, who constitute a minority in Germany. However, the consistent and practical application of these principles remains in question. In practice, media reporting often falls short of adhering to ethical standards, frequently reinforcing stereotypes and harmful generalizations about immigrants and refugees. In recent years, German media outlets have demonstrated a persistent tendency to disproportionately emphasize crimes involving Muslim immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, often drawing explicit links between religious affiliation, migration background, and security threats. A recurring pattern in this coverage is the early and prominent focus on the perpetrators’ national and religious identities, particularly their association with Islam.
The Far-right gains
The portrayal of immigrants (particularly those from muslim-majority countries) as inherently prone to criminal behavior was a central theme in the 2025 German election campaigns (15). In a 2024 Bundestag debate on immigration policy, Friedrich Merz blamed migrants for a series of gang rapes and urged the government to halt the admission of people from Afghanistan and Syria (16). His rhetoric echoed that of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), blurring the line between mainstream and extremist discourse. For instance, AfD politician Beatrix von Storch claimed in a February 2025 interview with ARD that immigrants, primarily from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq, were responsible for an average of two gang rapes, ten other rapes, and 131 violent crimes per day over the past six years. These inflammatory claims, largely unsubstantiated, served to reinforce public fears and justify increasingly restrictive immigration policies (17).
In the federal elections held in February 2025, the conservative Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), known as the Union parties, secured 30% of the vote, followed by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) with around 20%. This outcome signals a notable conservative shift in German politics, with several news outlets attributing the AfD's surge in popularity to “fears over immigration and security following a series of deadly attacks blamed on asylum seekers.”(18) Despite Muslims making up less than 0.5% of Thuringia’s population, the German eastern state where AfD won a majority, 75% of the voters said they were “worried that the influence of Islam in Germany is becoming too strong” (19).
Immigration also played a central role in earlier German elections. In 2017, an intense national debate over Germany’s role as a refuge for asylum seekers helped propel the AfD to prominence. Strongly opposed to immigration and liberal asylum policies, the party secured 13% of the national vote that year, earning its first seats in the Bundestag (20).
These election results and the events leading up to them show clearly how immigration and national security have become central issues in far-right political debates. The far-right party, AfD, has exploited criminal acts committed by migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, particularly those associated with Islam and immigration, to fuel its anti-immigration agenda (21). This trend gained momentum following a series of high-profile attacks, such as Munich, Aschaffenburg, and Magdeburg criminal incidents, that have been amplified by sensational media coverage. Migrants, especially from Muslim-majority countries, are increasingly portrayed as both a domestic security risk and a potential liability in times of geopolitical crisis.
Although Germany has taken steps to address these issues, such as establishing a central "Hate Crime" database in 2017 and publishing annual reports on politically motivated crimes, the progress remains limited. These statistics are still restricted, only made available upon parliamentary request, and are not widely accessible to the public. The issue is compounded by bureaucratic barriers, language difficulties for victims, and a lack of an effective reporting system. Furthermore, current policies fail to adopt an intersectional approach, neglecting the distinct experiences of unique migrant populations (e.g., Muslim women, black migrants, etc)in the face of rising hatred and violence (22).
Policy shifts on migration and refugee intake
Far-right actors, bolstered by media portrayals of migrants and refugees as threats to public security, have not only shaped public opinion but also steered national policy debates. This influence has contributed to growing demands for more restrictive immigration and asylum regulations.
One example is the introduction of the Bezahlkarte (payment card) in May 2024, under the amended Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act, which replaced traditional cash payments for refugees and asylum seekers receiving social assistance. Shortly afterward, the government implemented the so-called “bed, bread, and soap” minimum standard, aimed at discouraging asylum seekers arriving under the Dublin Regulation and those deemed ineligible for protection.
Following the CDU/CSU's electoral victory in March 2025, party leader Friedrich Merz unveiled a further set of restrictive immigration measures. These included turning away undocumented migrants at Germany’s borders and suspending humanitarian resettlement programs, including those previously allocated for Afghan nationals (23). These policy moves coincided with a surge in anti-immigration sentiment, inflamed by extensive media coverage of violent incidents allegedly involving asylum seekers, particularly Afghan nationals. A pivotal moment came with the knife attack in Aschaffenburg in January 2025, carried out by an Afghan man without legal residency. The incident dominated news cycles and went viral on social media, triggering widespread public outrage and intensifying political pressure.
This media-driven narrative has reinforced public demands for tougher immigration controls and fueled record-high support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) (24), which has consistently linked migration to security concerns.
While the government frames these policy shifts as necessary to prioritize those with legitimate asylum claims and deter economic migration, critics argue that they exploit public fears over migration and security, a connection frequently repeated in political discourse despite research showing no consistent correlation (25).
Conclusion
Recognizing the media’s influence in perpetuating a climate of ‘otherness’ and fear is crucial, given its powerful impact on public opinion and the normalization of discrimination. Muslim migrants and refugees are disproportionately reported on crime-related coverage, far more frequently than non-Muslims. These reports often highlight the nationality, migration status, and religious affiliation of suspects, feeding into pre-existing stereotypes and exacerbating social divisions. This pattern of reporting not only perpetuates fear but also aligns with and legitimizes populist political discourses that present Muslim migrants and refugees as inherently prone to criminality. The resulting generalizations stigmatize entire communities, driving increased hate speech, public hostility, and restrictive policy responses that undermine refugee protections and integration support.
Importantly, this pattern also raises critical questions about journalistic ethics and the origins of the information being circulated. Since the police are frequently the first and primary source of crime information for journalists, it is essential to examine how these institutions contribute to shaping public narratives. Scrutinizing the legitimacy and potential biases in information-sharing processes is essential, particularly when such narratives highlight the ethnicity or religion of already marginalized minority groups. A more responsible and collaborative approach between law enforcement and media actors is needed to prevent the co-production of racialized suspect identities and to uphold journalistic integrity.
Combating selective media coverage and biased portrayals of migrants and refugees who commit crimes must become a top priority. Such reporting fuels xenophobic rhetoric, intensifies hatred, and deepens societal divides. Addressing these practices is essential to fostering a society based on fairness, solidarity, and respect for human rights. Policy decisions should be guided not by fear, but by the well-being of all members of society.
Continued isolation and marginalization of migrant communities will not only undermine social cohesion but will also hinder Germany’s economic growth by limiting the full integration and contribution of these populations to the workforce and society.
The fall of Assad and the rise of Xenophobia in Europe: The case study of Germany as a catalyst for Europe's continental political breakdown
By: Bethany Morley
This paper explores the rise of xenophobia towards Syrian refugees in Europe, using Germany and the change in attitudes towards refugees as a case study. Drawing on sections from Ruqiya’s paper, it examines how Germany’s political shift following new conservative leadership reflects the broader continental retreat from humanitarian values the country was previously known for.
Background on the Syrian conflict
On the 5th of March 2025, Assad regime loyalists carried out an attack that resulted in the deaths of 383 people, including 211 civilians and 172 Syrian individuals from the security forces (26). This violent act was part of a broader pattern of escalations of violence, further intensifying tensions in Syria amidst the ongoing instability that has been persistent since the beginning of the Syrian revolution in March 2011. Since 2011, Syria has faced unprecedented vulnerabilities and social, political, and economic unrest. As of 2025, the UNHCR Global Focus reports 7.2 million internally displaced people (IDPs) and 6.2 million refugees in Syria (27). This ongoing instability has displaced millions, with most seeking refuge in neighbouring countries and Europe, particularly Germany, where, as of mid-2024, the country hosted 628,135 Syrian refugees (28) becoming a symbol of humanitarian leadership during Angela Merkel’s ‘open door’ policy.
However, Germany’s stance has since evolved dramatically. The political climate within Germany has since shifted from one of inclusion to one marked by restrictions, populism and growing xenophobia. Compounding the wider anxieties surrounding migration and identity within Europe.
Addressing the rise of xenophobia in Germany
Merz’s new leadership, Germany’s shift towards rising nationalism signal a move away from viewing refugees as vulnerable individuals in need of protection, instead as an inconvenience to be removed, underpinning the growing xenophobic rhetoric in the country. Germany's political landscape is rapidly shifting. Increasing xenophobia and a growing narrative is emerging that Syrian refugees should return to their homeland due to the presumed stability following Bashar al-Assad’s fall. As expressed to the Rheinische Post in December 2024 by Alexander Throm, a member of the German Bundestag, “for most Syrian refugees, the original reason for fleeing, the horrific Assad regime, is no longer relevant", noting the apparent fundamental change of the country. Given the current evolving situation in Syria, there is a strategic opportunity to disrupt cycles of conflict that have driven migration. However, statements like that of Alexander Throm not only unfairly target Syrian refugees, generalise their experiences and overlook the dangers and instability in Syria, conditions which have escalated in recent weeks. Such rhetoric opens further risk of Syrian refugees being exposed to further instability, exacerbating their vulnerability.
Following the German elections on the 23rd of February conservative leader Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) won. Merz has faced criticism from those who accuse his government of using Syrians as a scapegoat for broader societal issues. This comes despite the ongoing challenges in Syria. Critics highlight attempts to accelerate the deportation of Syrian refugees, especially those who have been in the country for long periods or whose asylum claims were rejected. In addition to Merz’s own controversial policies and remarks, several of his political counterparts have been known to make xenophobic comments, such as CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann expressing the need to pursue “criminal refugees” on February 23rd 2025 following the terror attacks in Magdeburg.
Before his success in 2023 Merz attempted to push the German parliament for new migration measures, and on January 29th, 2025, Merz introduced a five-point migration plan, aimed at significantly tightening Germany’s border and asylum policies. The plan was passed in the Bundestag with the backing of the far-right Alternative for Germany party - an alarming endorsement of a blatantly xenophobic party, raising pressing concerns regarding the future of refugee rights in Germany if there is increased influence by such right-wing parties.
Syrian refugees have increasingly become a focal point of the rhetoric used by right-wing conservative groups to criticise and attack migration policies. They have been singled out as a symbol of the ‘threat’ posed by migration, with political figures leveraging their plight to ignite fears about economic strain, security risks and homogenisation by the increase of Syrians in the country. Now that Merz is in a position of greater power, Syrian refugees are being incentivised and further pressured to return home. However, the recent surge in violence by Assad loyalists highlights the ongoing instability in Syria raising the question of whether the stricter migration laws being pushed by Merz’s party are truly in the best interest of refugees or if it is driven more by the xenophobic agendas of the country. Further, the false narrative that Syria is now safer for return, as suggested by Alexander Throm, fails to acknowledge the ongoing dangers of those who are targeted by specific forms of violence and exploitation.
These political developments threaten both the safety of Syrian refugees and the core principles of asylum and human rights within Germany and Europe as a whole. With the recent election of right-wing leader Merz in Germany and the evolving political landscape in Europe, there is increasing uncertainty surrounding the future of Syrian refugees, turning their livelihoods into a political arena, putting the safety and future of Syrian refugees at risk in the very country that was previously a beacon of humanitarian hope.
Incentivised returns and coercive policy
Under a Merz-led government, the future of Syrian refugees in Germany faces a critical and uncertain trajectory. Attitudes and policies surrounding asylum have the potential to severely undermine the protection of refugees. Merz’s government, in the month following his election in February 2025, has already set the stage for significant shifts in Germany’s migration and asylum policies, with potentially devastating implications for refugees. For over 30 years, Germany has supported voluntary returns of refugees and migrants. However, financial aid for Syrians was halted in 2012 due to the country's danger and instability. After Bashar al-Assad's fall, Germany's BAMF resumed its efforts adding Syria to its Return and Reintegration Assistance Programme using financial incentives. The financial incentives include travel tickets (flight or bus) and journey expenses, medical support and other supposed ‘benefits’.
The suggestion of financial incentives for return further heightens the risks for vulnerable populations particularly those who face the threat of forced deportation; it can create a coercive environment for refugees who are struggling financially. Refugees are often financially unstable following leaving their home situations. The UNHCR noted that globally 90% of Syrian refugees live below the poverty line, so to offer financial incentives to already vulnerable persons exacerbates vulnerabilities, blurring the line between voluntary and involuntary return. This shifting rhetoric and policy direction paint refugees as a problem to be managed, rather than a group in need of ongoing protection and contribute to the growing political climate where refugees are increasingly treated as scapegoats for broader societal issues. In such an environment, Syrian refugees face an uncertain future. The country is currently at a critical point. With HTS’s new rule, there is growing uncertainty and expectations within the country; the European nations must ensure to invest in securing a stable Syria facilitating the voluntary return of refugees. Without increased international engagement the country risks deeper instability and prolonged suffering. In summary, under Merz’s new leadership, Germany’s shift towards rising nationalism signals a move away from viewing refugees as vulnerable individuals in need of protection, instead as an inconvenience to be removed, underpinning the growing xenophobic rhetoric in the country.
Cross-border hostility & a retreat from refugee protections
Germany’s transformation mirrors a broader European retreat from refugee protection and a growing willingness for migration policies to attempt to deter migration. Across the continent, governments are prioritising border control over humanitarian duty.
The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, adopted in 2024, signals this shift. When it was introduced, it was said to be a step toward a ‘fairer’ system, though it is characterised by fast-tracked border detention, widened deportation mechanisms, and the promotion of outsourcing asylum processing to third countries. Human rights organisations warn that these measures are not towards a fairer system; rather, they are promoting exclusion and portray asylum seekers as security threats rather than as individuals entitled to protection.
Under Friedrich Merz, Germany’s alignment with these policies marks a stark difference from its earlier humanitarian stance. What is unfolding across Europe is not only a policy shift but it also brings serious moral questioning as to those in power and who it is that is shaping our policies. The continent’s collective response to displacement is growing harsher, legally narrowing the space for asylum while normalising anti-refugee rhetoric. This erosion of protection risks undoing decades of progress in international refugee law and calls into question Europe’s own commitment to human rights.
Syrian identity & political scapegoats
Amid escalating violence in Syria and a shifting political landscape in Germany, Syrian refugees find themselves at the center of a growing humanitarian and political crisis.
Syrian refugees have increasingly become a focal point of the rhetoric used by right-wing conservative groups to criticize and attack migration policies. They have been singled out as a symbol of the ‘threat’ posed by migration, with political figures leveraging their initatives to ignite fear about economic strain, security risks and cultural homogenisation by the increase of Syrians in the country (29). Now that Merz is in a position of greater power, Syrian refugees are being incentivised and further pressured to return home (30). However, the recent surge in violence by Assad loyalists highlights the ongoing instability in Syria, raising the question of whether the stricter migration laws being pushed by Merz’s party are truly in the best interest of refugees, or if it is driven more by the xenophobic agendas of the country. Further, the false narrative that Syria is now safer for return, as suggested by Alexander Throm, fails to acknowledge the ongoing dangers of those who are targeted by specific forms of violence and exploitation.
These political developments threaten both the safety of Syrian refugees and the core principles of asylum and human rights within Germany and Europe as a whole. With the recent election of right-wing leader Merz in Germany and the evolving political landscape in Europe, there is increasing uncertainty surrounding the future of Syrian refugees, turning their livelihoods into a political arena, putting the safety and future of Syrian refugees at risk in the very country that was previously a beacon of hope for a prosperous future.
Legal & institutional barriers to asylum in Europe
The tightening of asylum systems across Europe has created deep-rooted legal and institutional barriers that undermine refugee protection. There continues to be an unfair burden placed on certain states,while the EU Pact accelerates deportations and attempts to derail the right to appeal.
For Syrian refugees, many of whom have endured imprisonment, persecution and prejudice, these barriers drastically shrink their chances of refuge. Long waits and shifting eligibility rules compound their vulnerability. At the same time, national politics have made such restrictions appear practical rather than discriminatory. In appealing to voters’ fears, many leaders have redefined cruelty as necessity, equating control with security and compassion with weakness.
Conclusion
Germany’s shifting stance towards and outward xenophobia towards Syrian refugees marks a defining moment in Europe’s moral and political trajectory. Once celebrated as a humanitarian beacon of leadership during Angela Merkel’s reign, it no longer stands for political, social, economic and continental hardening against asylum and migration. Under Friedrich Merz and the rise of right-wing populism, the political landscape has placed security, nationalism and deterrence in the name of protection above compassion, protection, and upholding humanitarian law. This shift not only puts refugees, Syrian or other, at risk but it also signals the erosion of principles that have underpinned Europe for years.
As European states continue to adopt migration policies and frameworks, they risk dismantling decades of progress in international refugee law and being recognised as states of dignity and compassion. The portrayal of Syrians as economic and societal burdens rather than humans who deserve refuge from one of the century’s most prolonged and brutal conflicts exposes a political crisis rooted in the erosion of values.
The trajectory of Germany is both a warning and a lesson that it is not just the laws that are meant to be upheld by the countries, but also the willingness and morality of political leaders to uphold empathy over fabricated fear.
Joint recommendations:
We call for the following recommendations to be upheld by European Governments:
Raising awareness among media outlets and law enforcement authorities on Islamophobia and the careful handling of sensitive identity-related information in crime reporting in line with the principles of the German Press Code;
The German Press Council is recommended to actively monitor and address potential violations related to the disclosure of identity-based or sensitive information in crime reporting, particularly in cases that could contribute to Islamophobia or other forms of discrimination
Promoting coordinated civil activism, engaging youth and local communities to promote social cohesion.
Production of Media content on Muslim migrants and refugees' success stories and contributions to German society to challenge the dominant narratives/stereotypes
Immediate protection of Refugees from forced deportations
Reaffirming the international standards for refugee protection.
Assessing the asylum applications on an individual basis through an intersectional lens.
References:
(3) https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/aschaffenburg-messerangriff-104.html
(4) https://www1.wdr.de/nachrichten/anschlag-auf-weihnachtsmarkt-in-magdeburg-100.html
(5) https://www.zdfheute.de/politik/deutschland/magdeburg-anschlag-weihnachtsmarkt-100.html
(6) https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/fra-2024-being-muslim-in-the-eu_en.pdf
(8) https://www.dw.com/en/german-media-under-fire-from-muslims/a-1617254?
(11) Ibid
(13)https://www.researchgate.net/publication/300892303_Mass_media_immigrants_and_racism_in_Germany_a_contribution_to_an_Ongoing_debate
(14) https://kompetenznetzwerk-imf.de/ueber-das-kompetenznetzwerk/zahlen-und-fakten/
(15) https://www.dw.com/en/german-election-2025/t-70794502
(17) https://www.dw.com/en/immigration-has-not-raised-german-crime-rate/a-71691228
(20) https://www.ifo.de/DocDL/dice-report-2017-4-otto-steinhardt-december.pdf
(21) https://www.ifo.de/en/press-release/2025-02-18/more-foreigners-do-not-increase-germanys-crime-rate
(22) https://www.enar-eu.org/wp-content/uploads/factsheet_germany_-_en_final.pdf
(23) https://kabulnow.com/2025/03/germanys-next-government-to-halt-afghan-refugee-admissions/
(24) https://kabulnow.com/2025/03/germanys-next-government-to-halt-afghan-refugee-admissions
(25) https://www.dw.com/en/immigration-has-not-raised-german-crime-rate/a-71691228
(26) https://ecfr.eu/article/the-road-ahead-six-ways-europeans-can-urgently-support-a-stable-syria/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/10/deadly-clashes-between-syrian-security-and-assad-loyalists-what-we-know-so-far
(27) https://reporting.unhcr.org/operational/situations/syria-situation
(28) https://www.statista.com/statistics/740233/major-syrian-refugee-hosting-countries-worldwide/
(29) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy7kxn6p878o
(30) https://www.independent.co.uk/news/syrians-ap-germany-bashar-assad-angela-merkel-b2662069.html
