The Dream of Hijra: Muslim Women’s Longing for Muslim Friendlier Environments in Germany

This article presents an ethnographical case study on how Muslim women in Germany negotiate the possibilities of moving to Muslim friendlier environments within the country to escape their daily experiences of mistrust and discrimination. Drawing on a data corpus of 1,550 files derived from three German-speaking Muslim women’s Facebook groups, the article asks which experiences of discrimination the women describe, how they feel about them and deal with them, and what conclusions they draw from them. The article shows that the women’s motivations and aspirations for a new beginning are manifold, but overall moving homes is an attempt at community-making with a pious disposition, especially as some women frame it as Hijra . But it is also a form of self-empowerment and a path to a self-determined life that is expected to have a positive effect on all family members.