Germany has become a safe haven for refugees and their families — some fleeing from war-torn countries who truly want a better life, and some who have nefarious intentions. Much like the United States, there seems to be a strong divide within Germany over the number of refugees being let into the country.
While some have been screened and denied asylum based upon past records, it can be incredibly difficult to deport such individuals. Many of them don’t have proper documentation to support the status of their citizenship in other countries, and without those, the German government cannot deport. These instances have contributed to the struggle the country faces in rounding up undesirable immigrants.
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There also remains the hardship many refugees and Muslim immigrants face in adapting to Western culture.
One saleswoman in Berlin found herself facing a situation that is very foreign to most of the civilized world, when a hijab-wearing woman entered the fashion boutique with objections over the placement of lingerie being shown next to Muslim headscarves. The 40-year-old saleswoman is from an Arabic-immigrant background and had encountered the attacker once before, when the woman first expressed her disapproval over the store display.
The woman was asked to leave after she insulted the saleswoman while speaking both German and Turkish. The woman appeared in the boutique once more, demanding the lingerie be moved from the area with the headscarves — before physically attacking the saleswoman. The attacker fled before police arrived at the scene, and authorities consider the incident to religiously motivated. The assailant remains at large while the investigation continues.
Related: The ‘Hate Crime’ That’s Just a Bunch of Trash
This incident highlights the fact that regardless of nationality or religious background, many who believe in Sharia law have a difficult time adjusting to developed countries. The fact that the saleswoman — an Arabic immigrant herself — faced being assaulted over her employer’s display shows the extent many others will act upon to rein in their own community members.
There are other reports in Germany where Muslims — sometimes immigrants and refugees — act as morality police in attempts to force others to adhere to strict Islamic teachings. It’s been reported that the Muslim community in Berlin has worked toward enforcing Islamic morality on business owners within the city.
While a lot of Muslims settle into the German way of life, many resist the idea of adapting to a lifestyle that differs vastly from Islamic rule. Muslims policing their own communities within Germany raise many concerns over the influence of Sharia law and the crime rate, which has seen an increase with the influx of refugees and immigrants that have entered Germany in recent years.
Related: The Hijab: A Religious History
The alarming actions taken by this attacker against a community are unacceptable and should be condemned by everyone. However, I have a feeling that many within the Muslim community will praise this act as defending the morality of the community.
If public displays of underwear are offending members of the Muslim community in Berlin, I hate to speculate what else will provoke an attack.
Angelina Newsom is a U.S. Army veteran and an OpsLens contributor. She served 10 years in the military, including a deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. She studies criminal justice and is still active within the military community. This OpsLens article is used by permission.
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