Rahma, a young Algerian Muslim woman living in Germany, became a victim of betrayal and treachery just as she was finishing her internship and preparing to begin her professional life. The joy of her success was short-lived—her dreams were buried in a bloody and heartbreaking scene at her doorstep, and she was killed without ever knowing her fault.
A Crime Fueled by Racism and Religious Hatred
According to Al Jazeera, the crime was racially motivated and driven by hatred toward Islam, as the victim was veiled and committed to her faith. Although investigations are still ongoing, what stands out—indeed, what is shocking—is the way the media handled the case: with extreme caution—or rather, cold indifference.
Europe Welcomes Migrants but Rejects Their Identity
As Al Jazeera reports, Europe attracts migrants in the name of economic need, yet fights their culture and beliefs. It promotes freedom, yet hesitates when it comes to the freedom to wear the hijab or to build mosques. It praises diversity but fails to create a safe space for it to flourish.
What If the Roles Were Reversed?
If the roles had been reversed—if the killer had been a Muslim Algerian and the victim a German girl—this event would have turned into a media earthquake. Outlets would have rushed to link the crime to Islamic extremism, combing through the killer’s life for signs of religiosity, holding the Muslim community collectively responsible, and calling for loud and unambiguous condemnation.
In contrast, when the killer is non-Muslim, headlines quickly change to: “mentally ill,” “suffering from psychological disorders,” or “under the influence of drugs.”
The Victim Reduced to a Single Line
The victim becomes a single line in the crime section. No big questions about racism are raised, no broad debate about the roots of Islamophobia in Europe begins. Yet the search for an Islam that hates others continues.
A Long List of Racist Crimes in Germany
Germany has witnessed dozens of racist incidents in recent years, including:
– The arson attacks on refugee homes in Mölln and Solingen in the 1990s, which killed entire families.
– The New Year’s Eve attack in Bottrop, where a man driven by clear hatred targeted groups of foreigners.
– The dismantling of neo-Nazi gangs who were planning attacks on migrants and mosques.
– Repeated assaults on veiled women in public spaces.
Yet these incidents received only marginal coverage—lacking the major headlines and widespread condemnation campaigns typically seen when the perpetrator is Muslim.
A Call for Honest Media and Institutional Reform
It is time for the media and institutional discourse in the West—especially toward Muslims—to be revisited with courage and transparency. Either we all believe in the right to human dignity and justice, regardless of belief or background, or we contribute to deepening the divide and sowing the seeds of anger and despair.
A Deepening Contradiction
Europe today faces a severe demographic crisis and a serious shortage of skilled labor. That’s why it is intensifying campaigns to attract talent from outside the continent, especially from the Arab and Islamic world.
But the contradiction is clear: migrants are attracted in the name of the economy, then their culture and beliefs are fought! Freedom is promoted, but there is hesitation over the freedom to wear the hijab or build mosques! Diversity is admired, but no safe space is provided for it to thrive. In doing so, they follow in the footsteps of the Anglo-Saxons who enslaved Muslim Africans while building their states—yet this time by distorting the faith of the enslaved.
The Cost of Continued Discrimination
The continuation of this discrimination—whether in the media, politics, or society—not only threatens migrants but undermines the foundations of justice in European societies. And if injustice spreads and discrimination rules, civilizations decline, even if they achieve prosperity or advancement.
As the resistance poet al-Bahri al-Urfaoui says: “History is a river… that never flows backward.”
Either Justice for All, or a Deeper Divide
It is time for the media and institutional discourse in the West, especially toward Muslims, to be revisited with courage and transparency: either we all believe in the right to human dignity and justice—regardless of belief or background—or we take part in deepening the divide and planting seeds of anger and despair.
Her Name Was Rahma—That Was No Coincidence
Your name, “Rahma” (Mercy), was no accident… You were a victim of hatred, but your voice still echoes:
“Do not kill the human in humanity.”
May God have mercy on you, grant you Paradise, and make your pure blood a light that illuminates the path of justice and awakens sleeping consciences.