A crime is committed against Jews every fifth day in Germany. Antisemitic attacks are also increasing in Rhineland-Palatinate.Antisemitism, speech and action is, according to the antisemitism officer Dieter Burgard in Rhineland-Palatinate, “a current and serious problem”. Crimes and incidents below the threshold of criminal liability continue to increase, said the representative of the state government of the German Press Agency in Mainz.
At least 57 anti-Jewish crimes were reported in 2019. That was 25 more than in the previous year and more than in 2010. Incitement (35 acts) and propaganda offenses (13 acts) are the main reason for the increase.
In addition, the willingness to report antisemitic crimes has increased, said Burgard. Bodily harm was reported once, property damage four times and threat or coercion once. More than 90 percent of the offenses are right-wing motivated. “Nevertheless, antisemitic attitudes are widespread in all social classes, all educational groups and all political directions, denominations and among people from the Middle East who see the state of Israel as an enemy of the war,” Burgard said.
The Leipzig authoritarianism study from 2018 shows that antisemitism is widespread. One in ten expressly think that “Jews have something special about them and do not really suit us”, in addition, 20 percent latently agreed with this statement, as Burgard reported.
There were many incidents that would not be reported. Statistics showed that antisemitic incidents are increasing below the criminal penalty. However, there are still no precise figures for Rhineland-Palatinate, and a registration office for this is currently being set up.
Internet promotes dissemination of anti-Jewish ideas
The attack on the synagogue in Halle marked a new dimension in antisemitic violence. In Burgard’s assessment, it is not an isolated act. “The crime has a very specific environment. The perpetrator sought applause from the far-right scene on the Internet.” The Internet and the so-called social media promoted “an unfiltered and almost limitless distribution of antisemitic ideas. Today, what is said here a few years ago was unthinkable, unspeakable.”
Burgard also perceives that the population has become more sensitive and attentive to the subject. There is still an increase in groups, clubs and working groups dealing with the Nazi dictatorship and democracy. Education and prevention are central means against antisemitism, said Burgard. The state government has expanded the formation of democracy and cultures of remembrance at schools with three central levers: the expansion of the culture of remembrance, more democracy formation and the experience and experience of Europe. In the past year alone, he had spoken on around 170 appointments on the subject.
Source: radiowesterwald
