berlin-borito-10gerinc-uj:Layout 1 4/14/2010 5:39 PM Page 1 AT HOME IN EUROPE ★ MUSLIMS IN BERLIN Muslims in Berlin Whether citizens or migrants, native born or newly-arrived, Muslims are a growing and varied population that presents Europe with challenges and opportunities. The crucial tests facing Europe’s commitment to open society will be how it treats minorities such as Muslims and ensures equal rights for all in a climate of rapidly expanding diversity. The Open Society Institute’s At Home in Europe project is working to address these issues through monitoring and advocacy activities that examine the position of Muslims and other minorities in Europe. One of the project’s key efforts is this series of reports on Muslim communities in the 11 EU cities of Amsterdam, Antwerp, Berlin, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Leicester, London, Marseille, Paris, Rotterdam, and Stockholm. The reports aim to increase understanding of the needs and aspirations of diverse Muslim communities by examining how public policies in selected cities have helped or hindered the political, social, and economic participation of Muslims. By fostering new dialogue and policy initiatives between Muslim communities, local officials, and international policymakers, the At Home in Europe project seeks to improve the participation and inclusion of Muslims in the wider society while enabling them to preserve the cultural, linguistic, and religious practices that are important to their identities. OSI Muslims in Berlin At Home in Europe Project Open Society Institute New York – London – Budapest Publishing page OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE Október 6. Street 12. 400 West 59th Street H-1051 Budapest New York, NY 10019 Hungary USA OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATION 100 Cambridge Grove W6 0LE London UK TM a Copyright © 2010 Open Society Institute All rights reserved AT HOME IN EUROPE PROJECT ISBN Number: 978-1-936133-07-9 Website www.soros.org/initiatives/home Cover Photograph by Malte Jäger for the Open Society Institute Cover design by Ahlgrim Design Group Layout by Q.E.D. Publishing Printed in Hungary Printed on CyclusOffset paper that was produced from 100% recycled fibres. TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents Acknowledgements .................................................................. 5 Preface ..................................................................................... 7 Muslims in Berlin .................................................................... 9 List of Abbreviations ....................................................... 15 Definitions and Terminology ...................................... 17 Executive Summary ..................................................... 19 1. Introduction ............................................................... 22 2. Population and Demographics .................................... 38 3. Berlin City Policy ........................................................ 45 4. Experiences of Muslim Communities: Identity, Belonging and Interaction ........................................... 50 5. Experiences of Muslim Communities: Education ........ 65 6. Experiences of Muslim Communities: Employment .... 84 7. Experiences of Muslim Communities: Health and Social Protection ......................................................... 99 8. Experiences of Muslim Communities: Housing ........ 106 9. Experiences of Muslim Communities: Policing and Security .............................................................. 113 10. Experiences of Muslim Communities: Participation and Citizenship ......................................................... 122 11. Experiences of Muslim Communities: The Role of the Media ................................................................. 134 12. Addressing the Needs and Concerns of Muslims ....... 142 13. Conclusion ............................................................... 148 14. Recommendations .................................................... 151 Annex 1. Bibliography and Websites .................................... 158 Annex 2. List of Experts Interviewed .................................... 176 Annex 3. Organisations/Institutions Consulted During Research Process .................................................... 178 Annex 4. Tables and Figures ................................................ 181 AT HOME IN EUROPE PROJECT 3 OSI Mission The Open Society Institute works to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. Open societies are characterized by the rule of law; respect for human rights, minorities, and a diversity of opinions; democratically elected governments; market economies in which business and government are separate; and a civil society that helps keep government power in check. To achieve our mission, we seek to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights. We implement initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media. We build alliances across borders and continents on issues such as corruption and freedom of information. Working in every part of the world, the Open Society Institute places a high priority on protecting and improving the lives of people in marginalized communities. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Acknowledgements This city report was prepared as part of a series of monitoring reports titled ‘Muslims in EU cities”. The series focuses on eleven cities in the European Union with significant Muslim populations. Within the reports, select neighbourhoods in the cities were chosen for more in-depth study which are: Slotervaart, Amsterdam; Borgerhout, Antwerp; Kreuzberg, Berlin; Nørrebro, Copenhagen; Hamburg-Mitte, Hamburg; Evington, Spinney Hills, Stoneygate, Leicester; 3rd Arrondissement, Marseille; 18 th Arrondissement, Paris; Feijenoord, Rotterdam; Järvafältet, Stockholm; the London Borough of Waltham Forest. The reports have been prepared by the At Home in Europe Project of the Open Society Institute (OSI) in cooperation with local/national based experts. The At Home in Europe Project would like to acknowledge and thank the following individual who has been engaged with the research for three years and wrote the report: Nina Mühe Researcher; Interview and Focus Group Coordinator Europe University Viadrina, Frankfurt/Oder, Germany Under the supervision of Nina Mühe, the interviews were conducted by a team based in Berlin. These individuals are: Zeycan Yesilkaya, Veronika Faiz, Patrick Härtel, Ufuk Topkara, Kathrin Klausing, Mohammad Imran Sagir, Fakra Fatnassi, Carolin Fischer, Sarah Hartmann and Eike Meyer. Zeycan Yesilkaya also worked as interviewer of two Focus Group discussions in Turkish language. Professor Werner Schiffauer of Europe University Viadrina, Frankfurt (Oder) reviewed the draft versions of this report for which we are appreciative. Prof. Schiffauer has supported OSI’s research in Berlin from contributing to the background country report on Germany to sharing his experience and knowledge on Muslims in Germany throughout the entire research phase in Berlin Kreuzberg until the publication of the report. His support has been invaluable. In March 2009, OSI held a roundtable meeting in Berlin in order to invite expert critique and commentary on the draft report. We are grateful to the many participants who generously offered their time and expertise. These included representatives of minority groups, civil society organizations government officials and relevant experts. We would also like to thank the team at the British Council and the Muslim Academy for organising and hosting the roundtable meeting. Particular thanks are offered to Guido Jansen and Ailsa Murray from the Our Shared Europe Project of the British Council, Abdul Hadi Christian Hoffmann and Ingrid Fox from the Muslim Academy, Riem Spielhaus, Research Fellow at the Centre for European Islamic Thought, University of Copenhagen and Biplab Basu from Reach Out Berlin. AT HOME IN EUROPE PROJECT 5 MUSLIMS IN BERLIN We would also like to acknowledge the following people and institutions for their contribution, through discussions and advice, to the report: – Nuran Yigit and the team at the Antidiscrimination Network of the Turkish Federation Berlin (ADNB of the TBB) – Sanchita Basu and the team at Reach Out Berlin – Dr Kerem Oktem, St Antony’s College at the University of Oxford We also offer thanks to a number of individuals in Berlin who agreed to be interviewed by the OSI Communications department. The At Home in Europe Project has final responsibility for the content of the report, including any errors or misrepresentations. OSI Team Nazia Hussain (At Home in Europe Project) Director Tufyal Choudhury (At Home in Europe Project) Senior Policy Advisor Klaus Dik Nielsen (At Home in Europe Project) Advocacy Officer Hélène Irving (At Home in Europe Project) Programme Coordinator Andrea Gurubi Watterson (At Home in Europe Project) Programme Officer Csilla Tóth (At Home in Europe Project) Programme Assistant Katy Negrin Consultant Editor 6 OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE 2010 PREFACE Preface A central belief of the Open Society Institute (OSI) is that all people in an open society count equally and should enjoy equal opportunities. OSI works to mitigate discrimination, in particular harm done to minorities through discriminatory treatment, and to ensure that access to equal opportunities for all is an integral part of social inclusion policies of governments. The At Home in Europe project of the Open Society Institute focuses on monitoring and advocacy