Far-Right Surge in Germany Sparks Growing Fears Among Syrian Migrants

News Desk
BERLIN: More than a decade after fleeing the devastating civil war in Syria, thousands of refugees in Germany are facing a renewed sense of anxiety as the country experiences a significant political surge by far-right nationalist groups.
Shahd Najeeb, who escaped Islamic State militants with her husband Mahmoud Hmouech, now fears her family may no longer be welcome in their adopted home of Rostock on Germany’s Baltic coast, reflecting a broader climate of unease within immigrant communities.
Najeeb and Hmouech represent a population of over 900,000 Syrians currently residing in Germany, the majority of whom arrived as asylum seekers during the height of the conflict.
While Hmouech works in a local barbershop and Najeeb serves meals in schools to give back to their community, the rising prominence of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has brought migration back to the forefront of national political debates, fostering an atmosphere of growing hostility toward foreigners.
The shifting political landscape underscores deep societal divisions across Europe over immigration, integration, and national identity.
For established migrants who have successfully rebuilt their lives, the mainstreaming of far-right rhetoric threatens their sense of security and belonging, raising complex questions about integration policies and the future social fabric of European host nations.
As political parties realign their strategies ahead of upcoming legislative cycles, integration advocates and civil society organizations are calling for robust policy safeguards to counter xenophobia. Meanwhile, migrant families continue to monitor political developments closely, hoping their contributions to the local economy and society will shield them from the rising tide of nationalist sentiment.