Increased Antisemitic Incidents: Vienna Witnesses a 32.5% Spike
2023 Sees a Surge in Anti-Semitic Incidents in Vienna
Last year, Vienna, Austria, hit a new high in anti-Semitic incidents, according to the 2024 Annual Report of the Vienna Jewish Community's Anti-Semitism Reporting Office. The report recorded a staggering 32.5% increase from the previous year, with a total of 1,520 incidents compared to 1,147 in 2022.
December 2023 saw the highest peak with 294 incidents, followed by 218 incidents in January 2024—the third-highest level since records began. On average, the office reported 4.15 incidents per day compared to 2022's 3.14, but this number paled in comparison to the october-year-end average of 8.13 incidents daily.
The report highlighted that it only provides a partial overview of anti-Semitism in Austria, as there's significant underreporting, possibly higher than in preceding years due to the unique circumstances and challenges post-October 7, 2023. The office verified these incidents as anti-Semitic based on the IHRA definition.
While the report does not discuss the reasons behind this escalation, generally, contributing factors to an increase in anti-Semitic incidents include social and economic instability, political climate, social media influence, and international conflicts. To gain more specific insights about Vienna, consult the 2024 Annual Report or engage with local anti-Semitism-focused organizations.
- The Rise in Anti-Semitism in Vienna continued into 2023, with the IKG (Vienna Jewish Community's) Anti-Semitism Reporting Office reporting a 32.5% increase, reaching an average of 4.15 incidents per day.
- Despite the concerning rise in anti-Semitic incidents, the underreporting of such cases is suspected to be higher than previous years, according to the 2024 annual report of the office.
- To fully grasp the extent of anti-Semitism in the general-news sphere, the underreporting issue necessitates consideration, particularly in terms of crime-and-justice, since only a partial overview is provided in the 2024 report.
- In line with trends observed in previous years, the surge in anti-Semitic incidents in Vienna can be linked to factors like social and economic instability, political climate, social media influence, and international conflicts.
