Do guided mosque tours alleviate the prejudice of non-Muslims against Islam and Muslims? Evidence from a quasi-experimental panel study from Germany

Abstract

Abstract Background Anti-Muslim and anti-Islam attitudes are widespread in contemporary western societies. A grassroots movement of mosques tries to reduce prejudice by organizing guided mosque tours for non-Muslims. While this is an opportunity for intergroup contact in a social psychological sense, contact occurs under sometimes difficult conditions. As yet, its effects have not been investigated empirically. Objective We examine (a) whether visits have an immediate and medium-term effect on prejudice toward Islam and (b) how they change the visitors’ subjective images of Muslims. Methods (a) We survey N = 324 secondary school students in a three-wave panel study in 6 guided mosque tours in different parts of Germany, including a control sample. The tour programme was in line with common practice in the mosques. Standardized measurements were taken immediately before and after the tour and again several months later. (b) We asked about subjective images of Muslims and had subjects report their spontaneous associations with the term Muslim. Results (a) Most, but not all, mosque visits significantly alleviate anti-Islam prejudice in the short term. The effects fall off after several months. (b) After the visit, the image of Muslims possessed more concrete religious content, while negative and menacing associations, such as oppression of women, threat, or so-called Islamic State have decreased. Conclusions Outgroup contact in a mosque works as predicted by the intergroup contact research, even under less than optimal conditions. However, there is potential for improvement of the setup of tours in the interest of a more sustainable impact.