Number of Anti-Semitism Incidents in Austria Doubled

Lifestyle & TravelCulture ♦ Published: September 3, 2021; 10:54 ♦ (Vindobona)

The Anti-Semitism Reporting Office of the Jewish Community Vienna (IKG) presented its semi-annual report for the first half of 2021. The report showed that the number of incidents had doubled from the same period of the previous year. It attributed the increase mainly to Israel-related anti-Semitism and anti-Semitism surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

The high numbers of anti-Semitism incidents between March and May 2021 appear to be due to anti-Semitic manifestations at protests against COVID-19 measures. / Picture: © Wikimedia Commons / HeMei / CC BY-SA 3.0 AT (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/at/deed.en)

The Anti-Semitism Reporting Office of the Jewish Community Vienna (IKG) presented its semi-annual report for the first half of 2021. The 562 reported incidents are a new record high.

The Jewish community has never been confronted with such a high number of reported incidents–562 in the first half of 2021, twice as many as in the same period of the previous year. According to the report, it can be assumed that the number of unreported incidents has also increased. Shockingly, the figures reported by the IKG registration office and the results of the anti-Semitism study conducted by parliament are almost identical.

The two main factors, according to the report, are Israel-related anti-Semitism and Corona-related anti-Semitism. In particular, the high numbers of anti-Semitism incidents between March and May 2021 appear to be due to anti-Semitic manifestations at protests against COVID-19 measures. This was accompanied by the conspiracy theories of Shoah relativization and Holocaust denial, which fit into the scheme of vaccination myths.

The only positive aspect of the report is a noticeable increase in willingness to report anti-Semitic incidents, which underscores the importance of civil society.

National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka was shocked by the results. In response, he said, “The sharp increase in the number of anti-Semitic incidents in Austria, unfortunately, confirms to me that we must continue the fight against anti-Semitism consistently and uncompromisingly.”

Simon Wiesenthal Prize

The Simon Wiesenthal Prize is being awarded for the first time this year and honors people who are committed to civil society action against anti-Semitism. It is intended to serve as a sign of responsibility in the fight against anti-Semitism.

Austrian Parliament