Anti-Semitic Incidents on the Rise in Brandenburg
Germany's Brandenburg region has seen an uptick in anti-Semitic incidents this year, surpassing the number of incidents reported during the same period last year. A police spokesperson confirmed the trend, although they declined to provide specific figures, citing a year-end report due for release soon. In 2022, anti-Semitic crimes soared by 30% compared to 2021, reaching a total of 195 incidents, as per police records.
The rise in anti-Semitic incidents in Brandenburg might be linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict, particularly the violent Hamas attack on the Israeli border area from the Gaza Strip in October. The attack, the most severe since Israel's foundation, triggered calls for increased security for Jewish communities by Interior Minister Michael Stübgen (CDU). In response to the escalating trend, the Brandenburg parliament is set to discuss appointing an anti-Semitism commissioner on Thursday.
As extremist sentiments rise across Germany, the confluence of anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic views becomes a growing concern. Last October, Germany witnessed a sharp increase in Islamophobic attacks, coinciding with a surge in support for the Alternative for Germany (AfD), known for its anti-Arab and anti-Muslim rhetoric.
In recognizing this issue, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) has been monitoring the AfD's far-right nationalistic faction, Der Flügel, due to its classification as a right-wing extremist endeavor. Consequently, the BfV has also kept the entire AfD under surveillance as a suspected extremist entity.
The German government has taken steps to combat antisemitism, including the passage of a motion in the Bundestag, which references the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. However, the motion has received criticism for potentially stifling free speech and limiting academic and artistic freedoms.
Yet, the exact number of anti-Semitic incidents in Brandenburg this year remains uncertain. To obtain precise information, it is recommended to consult local law enforcement reports or studies that focus on antisemitic incidents in the region.
