Anti-Semitic incidents rise by 68 percent in French-speaking Switzerland
Published: Thursday, Feb 15th 2024, 00:30
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Anti-Semitic incidents have increased by 68 percent in French-speaking Switzerland in the past year. Almost half of these incidents occurred after October 7, as reported by the Office for Combating Anti-Semitism in French-speaking Switzerland on Thursday.
In total, the Intercommunal Coordination Center against Anti-Semitism and Defamation (CICAD) received 994 reports of anti-Semitic acts, as CICAD announced at the presentation of its annual report. By comparison, according to an anti-Semitism report, there were 910 anti-Semitic incidents across Switzerland in 2022.
Since the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East in October, 150 incidents per month have been reported in western Switzerland. In 2022, the coordination office registered a total of 562 incidents. Numerous reports have also been received this year.
CICAD explained the increase with the import of the Middle East conflict into Switzerland. It serves as a pretext for the spread of anti-Semitism, according to the coordination office.
Attack at school
The association registered 22 serious acts last year, seven times more than in the previous year. For example, the windows of the synagogue in La Chaux-de-Fonds NE were smashed with blocks of icy snow. A Jewish pupil was also attacked in the checkroom of a gymnasium.
In total, there were 78 serious cases last year, compared to 23 cases in the previous year. These include anti-Semitic posters, speeches and emails. The specialist unit welcomes a ban on Nazi symbols in public spaces. It called on the authorities to take more political, legal and educational measures.
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