Broken bridges? Mannheim's Muslims feel prejudices after knife attack

Broken bridges? Mannheim's Muslims feel prejudices after knife attack

Mannheimer Marktplatz, Mannheim, Deutschland - Half a year has passed since the fateful attack that converted the tranquil market square in Mannheim into a scene of the horror. It was May 31, when a 25-year-old Afghan unleashed his destructive anger and held five participants of an event of the Pax Europa group and a police officer. The city is no longer the same, and you can feel that in every alley, in any striking place - the Muslim community also suffers from the consequences.

The attack has cooled down the climate in Mannheim. Khalil Khalil, representative of the working group of the Islamic communities of Mannheim (AKIG), tells of a newly awakened skepticism that lies like a shadow over the Muslim population. "It's not like it used to be," he says. While the prejudices, which have long been considered dismantled, revive again, parishioners complain about cooled relationships with their neighbors and mutual distrust. GMX reported.

The marketplace and the lasting grief

The marketplace, once a lively meeting point, is also a place of mourning. Visitors linger at places of memory where flower pots and photos are reminiscent of the horror. "The grief is still there," says Khalil. Muslim women also feel increasingly uncertain. So far they have not been attacked directly, but the deep crack in society makes them more careful. The headscarves, once a self -evident piece of clothing, are now rarely spotted in buses and trains.

social aftershock

Even if there are no attacks in Mannheim directly, the uncertainty remains noticeable. The crime left not only injured people, but scars in society that will not heal so quickly. The Federal Prosecutor has brought charges, but the way to healing is still far. The marketplace is no longer just a historical center of the city, but a memorial for the victims of an act that is said to have been committed out of religious motivation, as the investigation shows.

Info text for further developments in the case: measures are currently being discussed that are intended to improve the feeling of security. The Mannheim security concept is checked and possibly adapted, such as GMX indicates. The city faces the challenge of creating a feeling of cooperation and security again.