Incidents and Controversies
This list of antisemitic incidents in Europe provides readers with an overview of incidents and controversies all over Europe. It is definitely not complete and to some extent unbalanced, i.e., some countries are better represented than others. However, that does not mean antisemitism is more virulent in countries that are more present in this list; it is simply better monitored there. You can help improve monitoring by reporting incidents that have occurred in your country to the Forum.
London, UK: Channel 4 Forced to Apologize for “Distasteful” Sketch
July 31, 2008.
The producers of Channel 4’s comedy series The Kevin Bishop Show were forced to apologize after community leaders and Holocaust survivors criticized one of the skits calling it “distasteful” and “disgusting”.» Read more.
London, UK: CST Publishes New Antisemitism Report
July 31, 2008.
The Community Security Trust (CST) has released the half-yearly figures for antisemitic incidents in Britain, which show yet another alarming rise of 9 per cent since last year. CST has recorded 266 antisemitic incidents in the first six months of 2008, a 9 per cent rise from the 244 incidents recorded in the same period last year. This rise is based on incidents in smaller Jewish communities beyond the main centres of London and Manchester, and may reflect improved reporting from those areas. There is also a significant increase in the number of reported incidents involving students, both on and off campus.
Sources: Thecst.org.uk, 07-31-2008; Haaretz.com, 08-03-2008
Cottbus (Brandenburg), Germany: Neo-Nazi Mahler Challenges Sentence to Prison
July 31, 2008.
The neo-Nazi and Holocaust denier Horst Mahler will appeal against his sentence to 11 months in prison.
Horst Mahler was sentenced to 11 months in prison on the grounds of “using signs of forbidden organizations.” The 72 year old former lawyer used the Nazi salute and greeted his supporters with the phrase “Hail!” (Heil) when entering the jailhouse for his previous prison sentence of “incitement of the people” two years ago.
Source: Tagesspiegel.de, 07-31-2008
Gadebusch (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), Germany: Swastika Sprayed on a Building
July 30, 2008.
In Gadebusch, a little town in the western part of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, a swastika was sprayed on a building by unknown perpetrators. Police are investigating on grounds of “using signs of forbidden organizations” and “damage to property.”
Source: endstation-rechts.de, 07-30-2008
Zagreb, Croatia: Nazi’s Funeral Called Tribute to Antisemitism
July 30, 2008.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center reports that the funeral of a former Nazi concentration camp director in Croatia was a tribute to anti-Semitism. Dinko Sakic, the last surviving concentration camp director, died on July 20, 2008 in prison at age 87. He had been convicted of war crimes and sentenced to prison for 20 years. Sakic directed the Jasenovac camp, where tens of thousands of mostly Jews and Serbs, were tortured and murdered.» Read more.
Brandenburg, Germany: Right-Wing Motivated Crime Reaches Highest Level
July 30, 2008.
The organziation Victim’s Perspektive (Opferperspektive) reports that the number of right-wing motivated crime in Brandenburg has reached the highest level ever. Due to several cases that were reported after the end of last year, the total amount for 2007 lies at 151 individual incidents.Sources: Tagesspiegel.de, 07-30-2008; Tageszeitung.de, 07-30-2008; NPD-Blog, 07-31-2008» Read more.
Frankfurt (Oder) (Brandenburg), Germany: Two Letters with Antisemitic Content Received
July 29, 2008.
According to a speaker of the Frankfurt (Oder) prosecution authority, two letters with antisemitic content were sent to the Jewish community and a newspaper. Apparently, one of the letters was postmarked in Nuremberg (Bavaria) – like four letters, which arrived earlier this year. In mid July the Jewish community already was the victim of a burglary (see July 12th). The spokesperson added that a similar letter also appeared in other parts of the state of Brandenburg.
Source: Berliner Zeitung, 07-29-2008
Cottbus (Brandenburg), Germany: Jewish Cemetery Desecrated
July 29, 2008.
On July 29th, cemetery workers discovered that twelve grave stones were knocked over in the Jewish part of the biggest cemetery in Cottbus. Police stated they are investigating but have no trace of the perpetrators yet.
Source: Berliner Zeitung, 07-29-2008
Weißwasser (Saxony), Germany: Man Besmirches Kids with Swastikas in Holiday Camp
July 26, 2008.
During the weekend of 26th and 27th of July, a 20 year old man besmirched at least three children aged 10 to 11 with swastikas on their bodies, in a local holiday camp for children. In addition, he painted Hitler mustaches on the kid’s faces. The man was not a child carer himself, but a friend of one of the carers. According to the police, the perpetrator confessed his deeds but denied having any political motives, stating that he acted out of “foolishness” and “high spirits.”
Source: Spiegel online, 07-28-2008
Passau (Bavaria), Germany: Neo-Nazi Activist Buried with Swastika-Flag
July 26, 2008.
About 90 people gathered for the burial of Friedhelm Busse, a well known member of the militant neo-Nazi scene in Germany, who died at an age of 79. Busse had been sentenced to 28 months in prison on grounds of incitement of people and had declared at rallies that “when Germany is free of Jews, we will not need Auschwitz any more.” » Read more.
Göttingen (Lower Saxony), Germany: University Commission Clears Arnd Krüger
July 25, 2008.
The University of Göttingen declared that Arnd Krüger’s speech at a conference in June that was organized by the university will not be penalized. A commission of three scientists, all part of the staff of the University of Göttingen, came to the conclusion that Krüger’s hypothesis, widely perceived as antisemitic, did not break the “principles of good scientific practice.”» Read more.
London, UK: Last.fm Still Featuring Right-Wing Extremist Music
July 25, 2008.
Despite several inquiries from “Endstation Rechts” the internet music website last.fm continues to feature right-wing extremist bands, users, and groups. On the website dozens of bands with names like “Jewicide”, “Waffen SS” and “Arian Blood” are given a platform to promote their music, even though they use Nazi vocabulary and iconography like the swastika and the “German” salute.
“Endstation Rechts,” a German internet platform against right-wing extremism, reported the alarming development repeatedly to last.fm, which is based in London,UK and by its own declaration has had 21 million users, in May, June and July 2008 and has yet to receive an answer.
Source: endstation-rechts.de, 07-25-2008
Moscow, Russia: Antisemitic Books on Sale at Rally
July 24, 2008.
Hundreds of monarchists turned out in central Moscow on July 24th, to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the murder of Russia's last tsar Nicholas II and his family. Elderly women in headscarves sold far-right literature nearby, including "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion," an antisemitic pamphlet, and books titled "Why We Hate the Jewish Mafia" and "Xenophobia or Self-Defense."
Source: EJPress.org, 07-28-2008
Bremen, Germany: Prosecution Against Chairman of Bremen NPD
July 23, 2008.
The Bremen state prosecutor indicted Horst Görmann, the Bremen chairman of the right-wing extremist party NPD, for “incitement of the people”. The 55 year old is charged with publishing a text on Bremen NPD’s website containing insults against Jews in November 2007.
Sources: Radio Bremen online, 07-23-2008, Redok.de, 07-23-2008, NPD-BLOG.INFO, 07-24-2008
Odessa, Ukraine: Remains Of Holocaust Survivors Stolen From Mass Graves
July 23, 2008.
An unknown perpetrator has stolen the remains of Jewish victims of the Holocaust in a newly discovered mass grave in Odessa, Ukraine. According to a July 23, 2008 article in the local newspaper "15 Minut", construction workers found the remains on July 21st, while digging near the city's Megadom. During World War II, the Nazis had shot 25,000 people on that site and buried them in unmarked graves. Local residents photographed and videotaped the grisly discovery, but at nighttime cars came to the site and the remains were taken away. The city's deputy mayor responded to complaints made by the Jewish community by ordering police to guard the site and suspending construction there. Police are investigating the incident.
Source: Union of Councils for the Jews in the Former Soviet Union, 07-23-2008
Cottbus (Brandenburg), Germany: Senior Prosecutor of Cottbus Has to Leave Her Position
July 22, 2008.
Senior prosecutor of Cottbus Cäcilia Cramer-Krahforst has to leave her position as head of the department of politically motivated crimes. In her statement during the case against Neo-Nazi and Holocaust denier Horst Mahler, she stated that Mahler’s persistence and willingness to go to jail for his beliefs “requires a certain respect.” This comment was heavily criticized by the Judge and the Chief Public Prosecutor Erardo Rautenberg. Cramer-Krahforst is reported to have later regretted her statement.
Budapest, Hungary: Nazi Propaganda-Film Shown in Budapest
July 22, 2008.
The Nazi-Propaganda-Film “Jud Süß” was shown twice in a cellar in Budapest by a Neo-Nazi group. The hosts, who charged a fee for the viewing, are presumed to be the right-wing extremist publishing house of the brothers Gede and the wife of right-wing extremist pastor Lorant Hegedüs Jr. In the subsequent search of the location and the neighborhood the police found several DVD copies of the film.
Cottbus (Brandenburg), Germany: District Court Sentences Known Holocaust Denier to Eleven Month in Prison
July 22, 2008.
On the grounds of “using signs of forbidden organizations,” Cottbus district court sentenced known Holocaust denier and Neo-Nazi Horst Mahler to eleven months in prison. The 72 year old former lawyer had used the Nazi salute and greeted his supporters with the phrase “Hail (Heil)!” when entering the jail for previous prison sentence of “incitement of the people” two years ago. Mahler confirmed the charges but questioned the constitutionality of the law forbidding usage of the Nazi salute.
Sources: NPD-BLOG.INFO, 07-22-2008, Tagesspiegel online, 07-22-2008
Ückeritz (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), Germany: Two Campers Attacked; Perpetrators Sang Antisemitic Chants
July 22, 2008.
On July 22nd on a camping ground near Ückeritz, a village located on the Baltic island of Usedom, two 18 year old men were physically attacked in two separate incidents apparently committed by the same perpetrators. One of the men informed the police that he was beaten and hurt in the face by one man out of a group of at least ten people. Earlier, the victim along with four friends had approached the perpetrator’s group due to their chants and songs such as “Buchenwald is where we off the Jews (Buchenwald, da machen wir die Juden kalt)” – referring to the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald. While investigating the incident, the police learned of a similar attack on another man. The police arrested four men aged 18 to 22 from nearby Pasewalk as alleged criminals.
Source: NPD-BLOG.INO, 07.22.2008
Bryansk, Russia: Court Fines Bryansk Businessman for Sale of Antisemitic Film
July 22, 2008.
A court in Bryansk, Russia has fined a local businessman 25,000 rubles (approximately € 650) for selling an antisemitic DVD, as reported by the website Jewish.ru on July 22, 2008. Dmitry Kovalyov, owner of the "Patriot" store, reportedly urged his customers to buy the film "Russia with a Knife in Its Back: Jewish Fascism and the Genocide of the Russian People." Prosecutors charged him with violating Article 282 of the criminal code, which prohibits the incitement of ethnic hatred.
Source: Union of Councils for the Jews in the Former Soviet Union, 07-24-2008
