A Muslim girl in Berlin was targeted in an attack aimed at her hijab by a right-wing extremist, according to a statement issued by the Berlin police.

According to the statement, the girl was subjected to verbal and physical assault at a metro station and suffered minor injuries after the attacker removed her hijab and pulled her hair.

The investigation is still ongoing to identify the suspect who fled the scene after uttering racist slurs.

Germany has witnessed a significant increase in racist incidents and Islamophobia, due to the rise of extremist right-wing groups and political parties exploiting the refugee crisis in recent years.

According to TRT Arabic, Germany recorded at least 569 hate crimes against Muslims in 2022.

Over 5 million Muslims live in Germany, making them the largest religious group in the country after the Christian majority.

The issue of the hijab has been controversial across Europe for years, highlighting the sharp divisions over the integration of Muslims into European societies.

Source: IUMS, Electronic websites