Extremism - More cases of antisemitism - 'threshold is lowering'
Jews and Jews are exposed to open hostility and threats on the street and often on the Internet. This happens everywhere in Brandenburg, as the Antisemitism Expertise Center states.
Some examples from the previous year: A young man in Potsdam is attacked because of his Star of David chain. In Ortrand in the Oberspreewald-Lausitz district, there is an attack with a bath ball bat, and the victim is insulted as a "Jewish pig". The Antisemitism Expertise Center also reports insults in a classroom chat in Brandenburg an der Havel.
The number of antisemitic cases is increasing in Brandenburg
The consulting institution recorded 377 antisemitic incidents in the previous year. This is an increase of 173 cases compared to the previous year. However, there was also a better source and data situation, as stated during the presentation of the monitoring report of the Fachstelle in the State Chancellery in Potsdam.
The increase in case numbers is alarming, said the chairman of the Kreuzberger Initiative against Antisemitism, Dervis Hizarci. "There is a great threat." At the same time, however, the reporting behavior in society is also changing.
Most cases involve antisemitic statements and threats. In 2003, three cases of extreme violence were also recorded. Antisemitic incidents also occurred in commemoration sites for dealing with NS history, such as comments in guest books. In 133 of the total 377 cases, the location was the Internet.
Consulting Center: The threshold is lowering
Most of the incidents come from the right-wing spectrum, explained the head of the Fachstelle, Joachim Seinfeld. "The threshold is lowering." However, since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, experts say that hostility towards Jews in the Federal Republic has reached a new dimension. "People now express more openly that they find Jews stupid and make it clear about the Israeli politics," Seinfeld said.
Antisemitism is also present in sports, according to the consulting center, especially in amateur football. Rechtsrock music is played much more casually in team cabins, said Hizarci. "So that during a turn, you know: the opponent is currently listening to Rechtsrock music full of antisemitic and right-wing content."
Landkreis Oberhavel and City of Potsdam with the most incidents
The most antisemitic incidents occurred in 2023 with 55 cases in the Landkreis Oberhavel. There, the KZ memorial sites Sachsenhausen and Ravensbrück, which report increasing numbers, are located. Then follow Potsdam (45 cases), Barnim (33), Cottbus (31), and Märkisch-Oderland (24).
Educational work is needed
Hizarci sees educational work as necessary to combat antisemitism. "We cannot be negligent in the field of historical-political education." In the face of increasing defacements by children and young people in KZ memorial sites, Hizarci also said: "It belongs to the preparation of a memorial site visit to perhaps also still hold some behavioral guidelines."
The representative of the state at the federal level, State Secretary Friederike Haase, stated in light of the increase in antisemitic incidents, the land will support affected individuals and initiatives. Jewish life in Brandenburg will continue to become more visible. Haase referred to the recent inauguration of the new synagogue center in Potsdam. She also mentioned that the state parliament has enshrined the fight against antisemitism and the promotion of Jewish culture as a state goal in the constitution. In addition, since June, the first antisemitism commissioner of the state, Andreas Büttner, has been actively engaged in combating hate and incitement.
- In Brandenburg an der Havel, an incident of antisemitic insults was reported in a classroom chat, highlighting the prevalence of such incidents across various parts of Brandenburg.
- The Landkreis Oberhaval and the city of Potsdam have recorded the highest number of antisemitic incidents, with the KZ memorial sites Sachsenhausen and Ravensbrück in Oberhavel reporting increasing numbers.
- The head of the Antisemitism Expertise Center, Joachim Seinfeld, noted that the threshold for expressing antisemitic views is lowering, especially after the Hamas attack on Israel in October.
- In sports, especially in amateur football, the consulting center has observed a trend of Rechtsrock music being played more casually in team cabins, including antisemitic and right-wing content.
- To combat antisemitism, educational work is seen as crucial, as stated by Dervis Hizarci of the Kreuzberger Initiative against Antisemitism, who emphasized the importance of historical-political education and behavioral guidelines for visitations to KZ memorial sites.
