By Wolfgang Sannwald
“As a Syrian Muslim, I condemn such acts in the strongest possible terms. They not only harm innocent victims, but also millions of refugees who are trying to integrate in their new home country“: a tuenews editor posted these lines in the editorial chat shortly after the attack in Solingen. Many refugees and newly naturalized citizens from the Arab cultural area feel personally affected by so-called Islamist terror. All migrants in the editorial team of tuenews INTERNATIONAL condemn the perpetrators who murdered or injured people with knives or guns this year on May 31 in Mannheim, on August 23 in Solingen, or who wanted to commit such crimes on September 5 in Munich or on September 6 in Linz am Rhein. A former refugee: “The so-called Islamic State (IS) is a major actor of hatred and distorts the image of Islam worldwide. All of its victims are innocent people and most of them are Muslims who suffer from the atrocities committed by this organization.“ She feels unjustly exposed to a blanket general suspicion.
Although we at tuenews INTERNATIONAL do not currently report on such crimes, we have discussed them in the last three editorial meetings. The tuenews INTERNATIONAL editorial team currently comprises nine former refugees from Syria, Iraq and Iran. Four experienced editors who have worked for German daily newspapers and radio for many years also attend the weekly meetings as coaches.
It is frightening to see how the attacks affect not only the immediate victims, but society as a whole. The current increase in attacks by Islamist individuals or groups in Germany seem like targeted attacks on the integration process, “to create maximum discord and instability“, says the Syrian-born colleague. She no longer feels like leaving her home. In some media reports and outside, she senses rejection, notices “penetrating glances“ and experiences people leaving the train compartment because of her. Classmates insulted her son at school as a “bomber“. This drives some pupils of former refugees into isolation and hinders integration. Members of the editorial team experience such attributions based on clothing, skin color or other characteristics, regardless of their residence status, even if they are German citizens. This causes fear. And they are particularly saddened by the equation of terrorism and Islam: “This is in stark contrast to the values of Islam, which preaches peace and peaceful coexistence. “
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Das Team von tuenews INTERNATIONAL bei der Redaktionsarbeit auf einem Workshop in Heilbronn. Foto: tuenews INTERNATIONAL / Mostafa Elyasian.
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