In the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attack and subsequent Israeli retaliation, a surge in antisemitic and anti-Muslim hate crimes has been reported across the European Union (EU), according to a statement made by European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas on Wednesday.
Schinas expressed deep concern over the alarming increase in such incidents, revealing that many Jews and Muslims in Europe are now living in fear for their safety.
Synagogues have faced firebomb attacks, Jewish-owned businesses have been destroyed, and mosques and homes have been vandalized with swastikas and anti-Muslim slurs.
Online platforms have also witnessed a sharp rise in hate messages targeting Jews and Muslims.
Schinas highlighted the prevalence of slogans advocating for the destruction of Israel, calls for violence against Jews, and disturbing messages against Muslim migrants, including calls for their expulsion and the rape of Muslim women.
“This is simply unacceptable,” Schinas declared, urging EU member countries to unite in their efforts to eradicate antisemitism and racism.
He emphasized the significance of a new EU law, the Digital Services Act, designed to combat illegal online content, along with increased funding for fact-checkers to counter antisemitic narratives on social media.
While specific figures for antisemitic and anti-Muslim hate crimes were not provided by Schinas, Belgium’s anti-discrimination agency Unia reported a significant uptick in incidents related to the conflict between Hamas and Israel.
Between October 7 and December 7, Unia registered 91 reported incidents, surpassing the total of 57 recorded for the entire year of 2022.
Addressing the issue, Pope Francis, during the past weekend, condemned the “terrible increase in attacks against Jews around the world” and the escalating antisemitism observed since the October 7 events.
The call for action against rising hate crimes reverberates across European nations and international platforms.
