Inauguration of the first mosque with minaret in East Germany

The city of Erfurt is hosting a historic event: the inauguration of the first mosque with a minaret and a dome in eastern Germany, outside Berlin. This symbolic achievement occurs in a particular context for the region.

According to BAMF estimates, around 190,000 to 200,000 Muslims currently live in the new Länder (excluding Berlin), or only 1.5% of the local population. A figure which contrasts sharply with the 10% observed in the West.

Unlike in the West, where worshipers generally group together according to their country of origin, mosques in East Germany welcome Muslims of various nationalities within the same community. This diversity is explained in particular by the smaller number of places of worship in the region. The religious structures there are more recent and mainly self-managed by volunteers.

However, the context remains delicate: studies show more marked Islamophobia in the East. According to a survey by the University of Leipzig, almost one in two residents would support a ban on Muslim immigration, 10 points more than in the West. This mosque thus represents an important step for the visibility and integration of the Muslim community in Eastern Germany, despite persistent challenges.