Fact Check: Video of Muslim Protesters at German Christmas Market Misrepresented

A viral video circulating on social media claiming to show “large crowds of Muslims” chanting “There is no God but Allah, Allah Akbar” while marching through a German Christmas market contains significant inaccuracies, according to a detailed analysis of the footage.

The video, posted on November 18, 2025, by the X account @TheBritLad with the caption “🚨NEW,” falsely presented year-old content as recent. The post claimed: “In Germany, large crowds of Muslims walk directly through a Christmas market chanting: ‘There is no God but Allah, Allah Akbar.’ This is the true face of Islam.”

Upon examination, the recording contains no audible chants of “Allah Akbar” (God is Great) or any similar religious phrases. Instead, the audio captures drumming, general cheering, and occasional bursts of zaghareet – the high-pitched ululating sounds commonly used as expressions of joy in Levantine cultures.

The video’s chronology was also misrepresented. Far from being “new,” the footage had been circulating online since December 11, 2024, when it was initially posted by Christine Anderson, a German member of the European Parliament representing the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Anderson’s original post provided different context for the gathering, describing the marchers as Syrian immigrants in Essen, Germany, celebrating the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, who had reportedly fled to Russia. In her post, Anderson criticized the demonstrators for being “disrespectful guests” and suggested that Syrians in Germany should return to Syria following Assad’s departure.

The higher-resolution version posted by Anderson shows hundreds of marchers, some wrapped in Syrian flags, displaying victory signs as they pass through Essen’s Weihnachtsmarkt, or Christmas Market. The location is confirmed by street signs for the “Select Hotel Handelshof,” a hotel in central Essen, visible in the background.

The misleading characterization of this footage reflects a broader pattern of social media content being repurposed to promote anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiment across Europe. Such misrepresentations often gain traction during periods of heightened political tension or around religious holidays when cultural differences become more visible in public spaces.

Germany hosts one of Europe’s largest Muslim populations, with approximately 5.5 million Muslims living in the country according to recent estimates. Relations between different religious and cultural groups have been a significant political issue, particularly as the country has accepted large numbers of refugees from Syria and other predominantly Muslim countries since 2015.

Christmas markets are deeply embedded in German cultural traditions, drawing millions of visitors each year to city centers for seasonal food, crafts, and festivities. The juxtaposition of these traditional markets with demonstrations by immigrant groups often becomes a flashpoint for discussions about integration and cultural compatibility.

This incident highlights the importance of verifying social media claims before sharing them, particularly those that attribute specific behaviors or statements to religious or ethnic groups. Digital literacy experts continue to emphasize the need for critical evaluation of content that appears designed to provoke emotional responses along cultural or religious lines.

The mischaracterization of the video’s audio content and timeline serves as a reminder of how easily context can be manipulated online to support predetermined narratives about religious or immigrant communities.