Spitting and death threats.. A German activist recounts chapters of racism against veiled women in her country

Gheylen Brandenburg, a 22-year-old German activist, faces increasing challenges in her home society due to her religious identity and her choice to wear the hijab. Brandenburg, who is of French father and German mother, recounts how her life turned into a series of encounters with exclusion and discrimination that began to intensify since her conversion to Islam at an early age.

In statements to media sources, the activist recalled the first incidents of physical assault she was subjected to at the age of eighteen, when a drunken man spat on her inside a subway train in Berlin. She explained that the assailant was shouting, claiming that she 'does not live freely,' referring to her hijab, while she at that moment feared for the safety of her mother, who tried to protect her.

Gheylen criticizes the stereotypes rooted in the collective consciousness of some Germans, who assume that the hijab is forcibly imposed on Muslim women. She asserts from her personal experience that her decision stemmed from a complete self-conviction, calling on society to open direct channels of dialogue with veiled women instead of making prejudiced judgments based on ignorance.

Hate harassment is not limited to the street, but extends to the digital space, which has become an arena for severe threats and insults against her. Brandenburg pointed out that she received comments questioning her national belonging, and some even wished her to be involved in fatal accidents, which she describes as painful because it comes from members of her society in which she was born.

On the political activism front, Gheylen stands out as a voice advocating for humanitarian issues, regularly participating in demonstrations supporting the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. The activist believes that defending civilians and rejecting the war machine is a moral responsibility that falls on every human being, regardless of their religious or ethnic background.

Brandenburg calls on the German government to review its policies, especially regarding stopping the export of weapons that contribute to the continuation of conflicts. She also urges German citizens to break the barrier of silence and actively participate in the peaceful movement rejecting wars, emphasizing that humanity must precede any other considerations.

Returning to the roots of her faith journey, Gheylen describes her childhood as full of challenges and an early feeling of exclusion and school bullying. However, her transfer to a culturally diverse school in Berlin contributed to changing her perspective, as she experienced respect and affection from her Muslim classmates for the first time.

Her journey of converting to Islam began at the age of fourteen, after she became curious about a boy fasting in a care home where she was staying. Since then, she embarked on a deep research journey into the teachings of the Islamic religion, asserting that she has never regretted this path that gave her certainty and inner peace despite all difficulties.

In a related context, a recent human rights report issued by the 'Claim' network for monitoring discrimination revealed shocking figures reflecting the scale of the crisis in Germany. The year 2024 recorded a huge jump in the number of attacks against Muslims, with 3080 cases documented, compared to only 192 cases in the previous year, indicating a serious deterioration in social peace.

The data showed that women are the most targeted group, accounting for up to 70% of the total documented incidents, which included verbal and physical assaults and pre-packaged accusations. The report links this sharp escalation to the charged political climate following the outbreak of the Israeli war on Gaza, which created an environment of fear and distrust in official institutions.

Hate does not stop at street harassment, but extends to the digital world where my German identity is questioned and death is wished upon me.