Vera Jourova – 10 – Photo EC
(VIENNA) – 9 out of 10 European Jews feel antisemitism has increased over the past five years, particularly on the internet and on social media, says a poll by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, published Monday.
FRA’s report ‘Experiences and perceptions of antisemitism – Second survey on discrimination and hate crime against Jews in the EU‘ outlines the survey findings.
These point to rising levels of antisemitism, with about 90% of respondents feeling that antisemitism is growing in their country. Around 90% also feel it is particularly problematic online, while about 70% cite public spaces, the media and politics as common sources of antisemitism.
Almost 30% have been harassed, says the report,with those being visibly Jewish most affected.
Antisemitism appears to be so deep-rooted in society that regular harassment has become part of their normal everyday life. Almost 80% do not report serious incidents to the police or any other body. Often this is because they feel nothing will change.
Over a third avoid taking part in Jewish events or visiting Jewish sites because they fear for their safety and feel insecure. The same proportion have also even considered emigrating.
Responding to the survey, the EU’s Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova said: “The Jewish community should feel at home and safe in Europe, whether they are on the way to the synagogue or surfing online. The Commission is acting together with Member States to counter the rise of Antisemitism, to fight holocaust denial and to guarantee that Jews have the full support of the authorities to keep them safe.”
The FRA calls on the EU Member States to take “urgent and immediate action”. It says they need to work closely together with Jewish communities and civil society organisations in particular, in order to roll out more effective measures to prevent and fight antisemitism.
This, they say, should include “strengthening Holocaust education and awareness raising activities, keeping Jewish communities and sites safe, and regularly monitoring hate crime towards Jews”. It adds that regular victimisation surveys would help assess the effectiveness of laws and policies.
In addition, it says that all Member States should fully and correctly transpose EU laws to protect victims and to counter racism into their national law. This would help ensure victims get the support they deserve and perpetrators are sentenced with effective, proportionate and dissuasive criminal penalties. This would, in turn, encourage victims and witnesses to speak out and report incidents.
