Fear of openly confessing one’s own religion. Hatred that is always palpable. Jews in Europe are very insecure. According to the survey, Germany is no exception when it comes to anti-Semitism.
According to a survey, many Jews in the EU hide their identity out of concern for their safety. One in three respondents even avoids Jewish events or places because they do not feel safe, according to a study by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) in Vienna. Overall, 80 percent of the Jews surveyed believe that anti-Semitism has increased in their country over the past five years. Hate comments on the Internet play a significant role in this. 37 percent of respondents said they were harassed mostly on the streets, in parks or in shops because of their Jewish identity.
The survey of around 8,000 Jews in 13 EU countries was conducted in the first half of 2023, i.e. before the massacre by terrorists from the Islamist Hamas and other extremist groups on October 7, 2023 in Israel and the subsequent Gaza war. Compared to two previous surveys on the same topic in 2013 and 2018, it shows that very many Jews continue to experience anti-Semitism on the Internet and in real life, it said.
FRA chief: “Wave of anti-Semitism”
“Europe is experiencing a wave of anti-Semitism, partly fuelled by the conflict in the Middle East,” said FRA Director Sirpa Rautio. In an increasingly polarised society, it is important to spread the message of tolerance and ensure respect for fundamental rights. Since the Gaza war, the number of anti-Jewish incidents has risen again. “Some organisations are reporting an increase of over 400 per cent,” said the FRA, citing recent research.
Germany is no exception
According to the available data, Germany is not deviating from the negative trend. The survey found that 80 percent of those surveyed refrained from wearing Jewish symbols in public at least occasionally. Nine percent said that they had been attacked in the past five years – this is one of the highest rates in the survey. 51 percent had considered emigrating from Germany because of anti-Semitism. This is also a relatively high proportion. In total, around 171,000 Jews live in Germany.
Better protection required
The Fundamental Rights Agency called for the implementation of some of the existing action plans against anti-Semitism. This applies not least to combating anti-Jewish comments on the Internet. In order to allay the fears of those affected, it is necessary to invest more in the protection of Jewish citizens.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
