Rise in significant anti-Semitic incidents observed within Saxony-Anhalt region
Following the Hamas' aggressive actions against Israel on October 7, there's been a notable surge in antisemitic occurrences in Saxony-Anhalt. Out of the 178 incidents documented in the past year, 95 took place during the last quarter, as per the Research and Information Center on Antisemitism (Rias) in Magdeburg. This translates to approximately one incident every day in the region.
Rias highlighted some instances, such as the disturbance of a memorial event by around 30 individuals on October 8. They shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) and hurled antisemitic insults at the gathering. Memorial posters for kidnapped hostages were reportedly frequently torn down, according to Rias. Social media platforms were flooded with conspiracy theories.
The Jewish community in Saxony-Anhalt is quite small, reported the research center. "The current number of reported and recorded incidents is all the more concerning." The safety and well-being of Jewish people, and especially Jewish communities in Saxony-Anhalt, have thus witnessed a significant deterioration.
Antisemitism was already a part of the Jewish community's daily life before October 7, according to reports. Antisemitism directed towards Israel was the most common. Furthermore, Jews and Jewish women were often depicted as enemy images. Widespread were conspiracy theories about alleged Jewish power, and the memory of Nazi crimes was frequently targeted. Antisemitic hostilities came from all political spectra, as it was further stated.
