25th anniversary of Open Mosque Day in Germany

Mosque communities across Germany have once again invited people on 3 October to reduce prejudice and mistrust towards Islam.

This year was the 25th time that mosque communities across Germany invited people to the event. They deliberately chose to do so on 3 October, German Unity Day, as a sign of solidarity and belonging.

However, the problems cannot be ignored even a quarter of a century after the initiative was launched. Anti-Muslim and racist tones have become so loud that they are impossible not to hear, says Aiman Mazyek, chairman of the Central Council of Muslims (ZDM).

"We Muslims are really bearing the brunt of this."

Open Mosque Day was initiated in 1997 at the suggestion of the ZMD.

"The concept of openly answering all questions and eliminating prejudices as far as possible has worked both ways – for the mosque communities as well as for the visitors," Mazyek sums up.

It is estimated that the number of Muslims in Germany is about 5.5 million people, and most of them live in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, in which the city of Cologne is located.