The ECAJ annual Report on Antisemitism in Australia was released at yesterday’s at the organisation’s AGM revealing a 30% spike in serious incidents involving verbal abuse, harassment and intimidation.
There were 368 recorded antisemitic incidents in Australia during the year ending 30 September 2019, according to the annual Report on Antisemitism in Australia, published by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ). The incidents were logged by the ECAJ, Jewish community roof bodies in each State, and other Jewish community groups and included physical assaults, abuse and harassment, vandalism, graffiti, hate and threats communicated directly by email, letters, telephone calls, posters, stickers and leaflets. The total figure consists of 225 attacks and 143 threats.
According to the ECAJ report, the rise in antisemitic incidents was paralleled by a proliferation of antisemitic and pro-Nazi discourse online, especially on online sites used by far-right, white supremacist, neo-Nazi, and other racist groups.
The ECAJ report notes that although Australia overall remains a stable, vibrant and tolerant democracy, where Jews face no official discrimination, and are free to observe their faith and traditions, unofficial antisemitism is becoming more serious, and there have been worrying signs that it is creeping into mainstream institutions.
Source: ECAJ
