Living in Germany as a Muslim woman means I have to forfeit my independence for my safety. I rather stay at home than risk being humiliated time and time again.
This country really is horrible. I can recount multiple times where very similar things have happened, and when I was with my son too. But they never happen when I'm with my husband. No one dares says a thing,
"You're the only disturbance" one of them said. Then out of no where this man comes up to my face and asks if I understand what they're saying and that I had to leave. He calls over the starbucks worker to kick me out.
1 minute later, she still is yelling at me. I tried telling her this isn't some library where I had to be silent, but couldn't get a word out as the whole starbucks filled with white women joined in to yell at me calling me a nuisance (the phone was almost at the lowest volume)
In just a matter of a few minutes a German lady said my phone was too loud (i could barely hear the phone and it was already very loud in the mall that was surrounding the starbucks). Still, I moved to the far corner away from her so I could try and continue my meeting.
The latest example was when I was at a mall and forgot I had a zoom meeting. I ran to the nearest starbucks inside the mall (wasn't enclosed or anything). My husband took my son took a walk to wait for me.
Every single time I have in fact, been alone outside, I've been met with a racist German who takes it upon themselves to let me know I'm not welcome here.
After living in Germany for about two years now, I can confidently say that I don't believe I can leave the house alone without my husband or at least a family member with me.