2023-05-15 10:52:00
A total of 719 incidents were reported to the anti-Semitism reporting office operated by the Vienna Jewish Community (IKG) last year, a decrease of 25.5 percent compared to the previous year. It is still the second highest value since documentation began in 2008, stressed IKG President Oskar Deutsch on Monday.
965 cases reported
The statistics are only a “small balance sheet” and only make part of the anti-Semitism in Austria visible, emphasized Deutsch at the presentation of the report on Monday. It is only regarding actually reported cases, the number of unreported cases is probably much higher. Last but not least, the pandemic and the measures associated with it caused a record number of reports in 2021. A total of 965 cases were registered at the time. Before that – in 2020 – there were significantly fewer at 585.
Even though fewer anti-Semitic incidents were reported in the past year, their intensity increased. In particular, the number of physical attacks, threats and damage to property increased, the report shows. These attackers were mainly assigned to the category of “Muslim” anti-Semitism, whereby the perpetrators were mostly young people, reported IKG General Secretary Benjamin Nagele. There were fewer cases of mass letters and generally cases related to corona.
“Every incident is one too many”
Although attacks and threats were disproportionately attributed to “Muslim anti-Semitism,” only nine percent of reported cases were attributed to it. More than half (55 percent) came from the political right spectrum, 20 percent were from the left scene. “Every anti-Semitic incident is one anti-Semitic incident too many. And I really don’t care where it comes from,” said IKG President Deutsch.
The total number of reported incidents consists of 14 assaults, 21 threats, 122 property damage, 140 mass mailings and 422 incidents of abusive behavior. In the record year 2021, 12 attacks were recorded, making 2022 the highest number of reported antisemitic attacks.
“Danger to Democracy”
National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP) referred in a reaction to the responsibility of each individual, decidedly once morest anti-Semitism to perform. This is not only a danger for Jews, “but for the entire democracy and our European values”. Around anti-Semitism To fight it requires a counter-proposal for society as a whole, new thinking and, above all, civil courage.
The Greens were also concerned. “The increase in violence once morest children and young people must particularly shake us up and leaves traumata in its wake,” said culture spokeswoman Eva Blimlinger in a broadcast.
The SPÖ spokeswoman for culture of remembrance, Sabine Schatz, sees the anti-Semitism report as “a continuation of a worrying trend towards more and more anti-Semitism in Austria”. The SPÖ member of parliament and general reporter once morest racism and intolerance Petra Bayr also finds the numbers worrying.
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