Anti-Semitic hate crime

For centuries, Jews were persecuted as a religious minority. In the modern era, anti-Semitism has emerged as a political ideology that claims Jews control the world and are to be blamed for phenomena such as capitalism and communism. Anti-Semitism, including the belief that Jews are racially inferior, was the driving force behind the Holocaust. Anti-Semitic narratives, such as blood libel, continue to be heard today. Complex contemporary challenges like the financial crisis or the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians are reduced to placing blame on Jews, drawing on such anti-Semitic stereotypes and conspiracy theories. Contemporary manifestations of anti-Semitism also revolve around the Holocaust, with some blaming the Holocaust on Jews or suggesting that Jews focus on this tragedy to gain an advantage. Denying the Holocaust is one way of expressing anti-Semitism. ODIHR's reporting demonstrates that anti-Semitic hate incidents involve attacks against Jews both on religious and on ethnic grounds. Attempted arson, graffiti on synagogues, assaults on persons wearing religious garments, the desecration of graves and cases of murder have all been reported to ODIHR. Some civil society groups have reported a spike in incidents in connection with the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, Holocaust remembrance days, and other Nazi-related anniversaries.

Anti-Semitism was first condemned by OSCE participating States in 1990. The OSCE's 2004 Berlin Conference on anti-Semitism identified anti-Semitism as a threat to stability and security in the OSCE region. In Berlin and at subsequent Ministerial Council meetings, governments committed to comprehensively address hate crime data-collection, legislation, law enforcement, prosecution, judiciary and co-operation with civil society.

In many participating States, the use of Nazi symbols and Holocaust-denial are specifically criminalized, leading to hate speech being included in their data on hate crimes. A further methodological challenge is that anti-Semitic hate crime is recorded differently in different jurisdictions. Due to the particular nature of the phenomenon, anti-Semitic cases can be recorded as anti-religious, anti-ethnic or – more broadly – racist and xenophobic hate crime. Several Jewish civil society organizations work directly with the police to monitor anti-Semitic incidents. This innovative practice allows intelligence to be shared and resources allocated to increase the protection of Jewish communities. However, under-reporting is also an issue in the region, with Jewish communities citing a lack of trust in the authorities as a common reason.

ODIHR TANDIS

Reports

Overview of incidents reported by civil society

Attacks Against People Attacks Against Property Total
Violent Attacks Threats
321 170 1392 1883

International Reports

France

In his country visit report, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe expressed concern at rising racist, anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim and homophobic rhetoric and acts. He stressed that the existing, solid legal framework needs to be complemented by more preventive and awareness-raising measures.

OSCE Region

The OSCE High-Level Commemorative Event and Civil Society Forum, held on the 10th Anniversary of the OSCE’s Berlin Conference on Anti-Semitism, stressed in its final report the importance for governments to collect data on anti-Semitic hate crime and co-operate with civil society to provide security for Jewish communities. Participants also called on participating States to monitor and prosecute anti-Semitic hate crimes in partnership with civil society, to publish available data and train police and law enforcement to identify such crimes.

In its Declaration on Enhancing Efforts to Combat Anti-Semitism, the OSCE Ministerial Council called upon participating States to increase efforts to implement existing OSCE commitments to monitor, investigate and prosecute hate crimes, and to collect relevant data. It encouraged ODIHR to facilitate co-operation between governments and civil society on issues related to anti-Semitic hate crime data collection.

In his "Report on combating intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatization, discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against persons, based on religion or belief," the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights noted that extremism and radicalization, often leading to hate crimes and violence, need to be addressed. This can be done through police and security responses, community engagement, and data gathering and monitoring, among other actions.

The United Nations General Assembly (GA) adopted resolution 68/127 on combating violence and violent extremism, condemning all forms of violent extremism and underlining the importance of civil society in generating public awareness to the dangers of extreme violence. It recommends promoting community engagement in countering violent extremism.

The United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted resolution 25/12 on freedom of religion or belief, condemning violence and acts of terrorism targeting people belonging to religious minorities and emphasizing that States should diligently prevent, investigate and punish such acts.

The United Nations General Assembly (GA) adopted resolution 68/170 on freedom of religion or belief, condemning violence based on religion or belief and reminding States of their obligation to diligently prevent, investigate and punish acts of violence against people belonging to religious minorities.

In resolution 68/169 on "Combating intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatization, discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against persons, based on religion or belief," the United Nations General Assembly (GA) expressed concern that the number of incidents of religious intolerance, discrimination and related violence continues to rise around the world. The resolution also called for interreligious, interfaith and intercultural dialogue at the local, national, regional and international levels.