World Jewish News

A Survey Shows an Increase in Hate Crimes.

According to a report published on 6th June 2007, by the American civil rights organization, "Human Rights First", antisemitism and xenophobia have been steadily increasing in Europe over the past decade. The survey studied hate crimes perpetrated against an antisemitic or xenophobic background in Europe in 2006. According to the survey's editors, "Antisemitic crimes reached an all-time high". The survey was published on the occasion of the convening of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Bucharest. The survey's data reveal that the number of hate crimes - antisemitic crimes, Islamophobic crimes, and homophobic crimes increases every year. The survey's authors claim that this has been going on for the past ten years, at least. "There were a number of incidents in the course of 2006 that assisted in bringing hate crimes into the public eye; however, the rise in the tide of violence mainly goes unreported. The report provides details on crimes committed in each of the countries in Europe and states: "The perpetrators of these crimes aim their attacks at people whose appearance indicates their ethnic, racial, national, religious origins or their sexual orientation. This is violence motivated by discrimination". The data that the organization collected is based on official information from law enforcement authorities in these countries as well as on information provided by non-governmental organizations and by media reports. The survey also includes proposals for the Governments of the European on how to decrease hate crimes.
Among other things, the report proposes that the European Governments become aware of the phenomenon and denounce it, that they enact new laws to deal with these crimes, that they bolster the status of the law enforcement agencies and gather additional data on the ongoing hate crimes. Regarding antisemitism, the report states that the people engaging in antisemitism point to the State of Israel and the policies of the Israeli Government as justification for the use of foul language and Nazi symbols. The report states that "Antisemitic crimes have reached an all-time high". It goes on to say that although the States do deal with the criminals and the courts react efficiently, there are many antisemitic crimes that go unreported. "All over Europe, antisemitic crimes are perpetrated at a greater rate of frequency than even in the 1990s", it states. In the chapter dealing with Islamophobia, the report's editors note that the attacks on Muslims resemble antisemitic attacks in that they exploit the existence of Muslim terrorism or the Al-Qaeda organization in justifying these acts, "As if every Muslim in the world is responsible for the actions of every other Muslim".
The year 2005, following the terror attacks in London, was a peak year in hate crimes against Muslims. The report's authors claim that many Governments in Europe do not monitor anti-Muslim crimes. Regarding homophobic crimes, the report's editors state than only a minority of the cases receive media coverage or are monitored by the Governments. "In those countries where there is a greater presence of homosexuals and lesbians, their appearance in public has given rise to an increase in violence against them", the report emphasizes adding, "This also held true for the events that occurred during the Gay Pride Parades in five Eastern European cities in the summer of 2006".

Источник: sedmoycanal.com