Angela Merkel Won't Exempt Islamic Markets from Taxes in Ramadan
The Claim
Angela Merkel is exempting Muslim restaurants and markets from taxes to find cheaper food during the holy month of Ramadan.
News posted on
Emerging story
As Ramadan starts, social media users began circulating news online that Angela Merkel has signed a tax exemption form during Ramadan month. Users claimed this decision came to make it easier for Muslims in Germany to purchase food.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar's investigation found the circulating news false. The claim has been circulating since an anonymous author published in 2016 a story on Germany's Politically Incorrect. The story is very brief and offers no evidence,
Since then, the baseless story re-emerged during the beginning of every Ramadan.
However, the story debunked by Germany's DW in 2016 on both their German and English websites. According to DW, the claim is part of a smear campaign against Merkel, accusing her of favoring Muslims and taking her refugee policy too far.
Misbar didn't find any official sources in any of the websites and social media accounts that circulated the story. Furthermore, taxation policies are not part of the tasks of the chancellery and are a result of a more complex process within the German government.
