Attacks on young Muslim women: suddenly a man shouted "headscarf off!"

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Muslim Shaimaa:

"The fear just doesn't go away anymore"

Photo: 

Nora Börding / DER SPIEGEL

Shaimaa no longer likes to walk through her neighborhood alone, especially not in the dark.

It stands at the entrance to the Springpfuhl S-Bahn station, with the Berlin-Marzahn prefabricated buildings in the background.

She points to a spot in front of the bushes: "It was right here," she says.

"Here I passed out."

It has now been almost two years since the 17-year-old was beaten to hospital, presumably only because she wears a headscarf.

The trial against an 18-year-old is currently going on in the local court, among other things, he is charged with aggravated assault.

The verdict is due to fall in January.

"The fear that something bad could happen to you just doesn't go away," says Shaimaa.

It describes an attitude towards life that many Muslim women share.

A woman who wears a so-called hijab makes her Muslim belief visible and therefore quickly becomes a target.

According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, 950 Islamophobic crimes were reported last year, compared with 910 in 2018. It is not known how many women and girls were affected.

It is clear, however, that these are particularly exposed if they wear a headscarf or a face veil.

Experts assume a high number of unreported cases.

They suspect that many women affected do not turn to the police.

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