Status: 06/28/2021 1:45 p.m.
The appearance of anti-Semitism in Germany has changed during the corona pandemic. That comes from the numbers of the association Rias. Accordingly, the openly shown hostility towards Jews has increased – for example in the case of demos.
The Federal Association of Research and Information Centers Antisemitism (Rias) recorded 1909 anti-Semitic incidents nationwide last year. That is about 450 more than the year before, when the association presented nationwide figures for the first time.
More than a quarter of the cases (489) were directly related to the corona pandemic, as the managing director of the Federal Association of Rias, Benjamin Steinitz, reported when presenting the numbers. In 284 cases it was anti-Semitic content that was distributed at gatherings against the corona measures in speeches, on signs or on clothing.
“Right from the start, the Covid-19 pandemic represented an opportunity structure, quasi an occasion to articulate previously existing anti-Semitic attitudes,” says Steinitz. Often the Shoah was trivialized by comparing the state protective measures against corona with the persecution of Jews by the Nazis.
Fewer cases of Israel-related anti-Semitism
About half of the cases could not be assigned to a clear political background. Around a quarter (479) were rated as right-wing extremist or right-wing populist, and a further 247 were assigned to the conspiracy-ideological milieu.
By contrast, Israel-related anti-Semitism played a lesser role in 2020. However, from Rias’ point of view, this could only have been a snapshot, as there were numerous openly anti-Semitic demonstrations and attacks on Jewish people and institutions in Germany in May 2021 on the occasion of the Middle East conflict.
Less attacks, more abuse
The documented incidents included attacks, property damage, threats, but also anti-Semitic abuse or comments, for example during demonstrations or on the Internet. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, fewer attacks and threats have been recorded, but insults and other anti-Semitic statements have increased.
Rias attributes the shift to the fact that there were fewer opportunities for attacks, for example. For example, football stadiums have remained empty, restaurants and culture as well as schools are closed or fewer people have been using public transport.
“A considerable dark field”
The report for 2020 mainly included systematic surveys from Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg and Schleswig-Holstein – where there are regional Rias reporting points. There were also other documented cases from the other federal states. This included another act of extreme violence: the attack with a spade on a 26-year-old student In early October in Hamburg on the way to the synagogue.
“We still have to assume a considerable number of unreported incidents in the entire federal territory,” said Rias managing director Steinitz.
Rias Report on Anti-Semitism in 2020
Carmen Gräf, ARD Berlin, June 28, 2021 2:25 p.m.