The Federal Criminal Police Office recorded more than 1,500 antisemitic crimes in 2022. The Central Council of Jews points to a danger that is not reflected in statistics. In addition, with a view to the Documenta scandal, he warns of a worrying development in art and science.
Antisemitism is still part of everyday life in Germany. The Federal Ministry of the Interior counts more than five antisemitic crimes per day for the current year. The ministry lists a total of 1,555 incidents in an answer to a small request from the left-wing parliamentary group, which is available to WELT.
In the answer, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) names 55 violent crimes in the current year. In the third quarter of 2022, eleven such crimes were registered, ten of which were assigned to the category “Politically motivated right-wing crime” and one to no political orientation. Five acts of violence were reported in Berlin, two in Brandenburg, three in Bavaria and one in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
In addition to the acts of violence, the federal government lists a large number of crimes, such as incitement to hatred, insult, damage to property and the use of symbols of unconstitutional organizations, which usually means wearing a swastika. A total of 936 suspects were identified for the current year, and no arrest warrants were issued.
However, the figures for the third quarter of this year are not final, according to the ministry. These could be “subject to significant changes” due to late or change reports. For example, the numbers queried in the first quarter of this year were corrected from 459 to currently 683 crimes.
Criticism of this delay comes from the Bundestag. The answer shows the difficulties the authorities have in recording antisemitic crimes in a timely manner, says Petra Pau (left). “In view of the general increase in antisemitism, I would wish for the correct recording to be carried out more quickly,” said the Vice President of the Bundestag to WELT. “Only then can politicians and authorities recognize threatening developments in a timely manner.”
The Central Council of Jews in Germany regrets the persistently high numbers, but is not surprised. “In times of crisis, Jews often have to serve as scapegoats,” says Central Council President Josef Schuster WELT. “This also results in attacks.”
Schuster sees right-wing extremism as the greatest threat to Jews in Germany – especially when it comes to the potential for violence. “When it comes to hostilities that are not included in the statistics, I often hear that people with a Muslim background are also involved.”
In the past, antisemitic crimes that could not be clearly attributed to a political motivation were counted in the category of right-wing crimes. The conference of interior ministers agreed in June last year on more precise recording.
“In addition, there is a paradigm shift in art and science, which is also seen as legitimacy for perpetrators from the right-wing extremist milieu,” says Schuster. That also runs under the radar of crime statistics. In recent months, for example, there has been heated discussion about antisemitic works of art at the Kassel Documenta .
