Press Release: American Jewish Committee Condemns Recent Hate Crimes in Germany
The AJC Berlin Office/Lawrence & Lee Ramer Institute for German-Jewish Relations is shocked about two incidents of hatred in Germany the first weekend of November.
According to police reports, in Berlin unknown suspects attacked a rabbi and eight rabbinical students. After the two men forced the van to the side of the road, they shouted antisemitic slogans and threw a burning object towards the van. Fortunately, no one was harmed. In Hamburg, a Muslim cemetery was vandalized. Grave stones were covered with racist and antisemitic graffiti, including stars of David, and a linen cloth covered with swastikas was placed over several graves.
“We denounce attacks of antisemitism and any aggression against religious dignitaries and sites and call upon law authorities to do their utmost to find and prosecute the perpetrators of such heinous crimes,” said Deidre Berger, Director of the AJC Berlin Office/Ramer Institute.
“The severity of the attack against the rabbi underlines the need for a government ombudsman for antisemitism to monitor incidents more closely and raise public awareness that antisemitism is an attack on democracy,” Berger continued.
According to the German Interior Ministry, more than 500 antisemitic criminal offenses were reported in the first half of 2008, an average of nearly three antisemitic offenses a day. This is an increase over statistics reported in 2007.
The American Jewish Committee was founded in 1906 and promotes democracy, the rule of law, pluralism and mutual respect across ethnic, religious and national borders.
