Antisemitismus unter Muslim*innen: Sozialisation, religiöse Tradierung oder herkunftsübergreifendes Feindbild des islamischen Fundamentalismus

In Germany, debates about antisemitism among Muslims are increasingly being framed on distorted premises. The Alternative for Germany, in particular, portrays antisemitism as an ‘imported’ enmity from the Middle East that is deeply rooted in the Islamic religion. This perspective suggests a simple explanation for the origins of antisemitism among Muslims, but one that is heavily disputed in academic research. There is controversy over whether socialization in the Middle East actually plays a decisive role in the formation of antisemitic attitudes. Likewise, it is questioned whether antisemitism is rooted in the Islamic tradition. Instead, many studies emphasize that it is not the Islam in itself, but Islamic fundamentalism that is the decisive driving force behind antisemitism. This article explores these issues on the basis of several population surveys and, in particular, a survey conducted among German Muslims. The analyses reveal that antisemitic attitudes among Muslims—particularly in their more traditional form and in relation to Israel—are more common than in the average of the population at large. Nevertheless, many of the current assumptions about the causes of antisemitism fail to adequately explain the variations within the Muslim community. The results indicate that the affinity for antisemitic attitudes does not vary significantly between Muslims of different origins. Nor is individual religiosity of Muslims a significant predictor of antisemitic attitudes. Rather, a fundamentalist interpretation of religion emerges a crucial driver. Moreover, a moderation analysis demonstrates that antisemitism represents a transnational hostility amongst fundamentalist Muslims. This impact of religious fundamentalism remains robust when compared to alternative explanations.