Die Presse, April 26, 2021 (Print Edition)
German original: https://www.diepresse.com/5971468/hochststand-bei-antisemitischen-vorfallen-in-osterreich
Physical assaults have almost doubled in 2020; in addition, the pandemic has noticeably reinforced anti-Jewish tendencies.
Vienna. Never since the beginning of the documentation 19 years ago were more anti-Semitic occurrences recorded than in 2020. In sum, The Jewish Community Vienna (IKG) recorded 585 incidents - an increase of 6.4% compared the the previous year, according to the Anti-Semitism Report published on Monday.
The actual number of cases likely was even higher: almost three quarters of anti-Semitic incidents are not reported in the first place, according to a survey. In addition, only cases audited by an expert commission of the Anti-Semitism Reporting Office were included in the report. Further noticeable is the increase in violence: eleven physical assaults were recorded, almost twice the number of 2019. The number of threats, too, rose from 18 to 22 cases.
The majority of reports (364 cases) were related to hurtful behavior like anti-Semitic insults, comments, or messages; both verbal and in written format like letters or online media. In the latter case, several comments on the same online discussion were counted as one single incident. One hundred and thirty-five reports, almost a quarter, were coded into the “mass letter” - category - written content in newspapers, blogs, or entries in social media. The increase of cases in November and December were particularly aggravating. While 41 cases were reported on average between January and October, this number rose to 96 cases in November, and to 73 in December.
Corona as a Driving Force
There are two explanations: on one hand, since November 2020 reports can also be made also via an online form (www.antisemitismus-meldestelle.at) in addition to phone and mail. Furthermore, awareness regarding the reporting office was raised on social media. On the other hand, the “resurgence of the protests against the Corona measures led to a significant increase.” In this context, anti-Semitism manifests itself primarily in the form of conspiracy myths and the relativization of the Shoa - for example by using the Star of David to raise awareness of the supposed stigmatization. “Specifically on the Internet and in many demonstrations, wild anti-Semitic lies were spread,” says Oskar Deutsch. Out of such words, a conflagration of actions could develop if they are left unconfronted, said the President of the IKG.
An intensified appearance of the organized, extremist right-wing and neo-Nazi scene was also noticed in conjunction with Corona demonstrations, according to the report. This is problematic because a majority of cases (229) could be connected with right or extremist right-wing ideology. Eighty-seven cases were motivated by left of extremist left ideology, 74 cases were attributed to Muslim anti-Semitism, and 195 cases remained undefined. Five of eleven physical attacks were committed by Muslim offenders.
“Flare-up” of Violence
Besides Corona, the year 2020 was characterized by “flare-ups” of violence, according to the report, which specifically emphasizes two incidences: the attack on the President of the Jewish Community Graz, as well as the Islamist terror attack on November 2 in Vienna, which also targeted the Jewish Community. The fact that shortly before a Viennese Rabbi was attacked and nobody from the “many bystanders” came to his aid has been seen as “particularly disturbing” by the IKG.