Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic recorded a total of 4,328 antisemitic incidents in 2023

The Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic (FJC) recorded a total of 4,328 antisemitic incidents in 2023, compared to 2022, when 2,277 incidents were registered, representing an increase of 90 %. 2023 has once again confirmed the constant trend of a dramatic increase in antisemitism.

The collected data does not offer a complete statistical overview of all antisemitic incidents for 2023. The FJC draws information exclusively from open sources, representing a small segment of the described reality. The number of registered incidents also depends on the willingness and ability of victims and witnesses to report antisemitic incidents. In the Czech Republic, as in other countries, hate crimes continue to be underreported, often due to stigmatisation, mistrust of institutions or concerns about personal safety. The FJC statistics cannot answer the question of what proportion of the Czech population thinks or acts antisemitic. Still, they do tell us about trends and the social climate concerning anti-Jewish hatred.

Antisemitic-motivated physical violence occurs only exceptionally in the Czech Republic. In the last five years, two violent attacks were reported to the FJC (2020 and 2021). No attacks were recorded in 2023. Regarding personal security, Czechia remained a safe country for Jews in 2023.

Many domestic and foreign events influenced the themes, motives and speed of the spread of antisemitism. Until the very end of 2023, antisemitic narratives were connected with Russian military aggression against Ukraine and the fading COVID-19 pandemic. A turning point was October 7, 2023. Palestinian terrorist organisations led by Hamas attacked civilian and military targets in southern Israel from the Gaza Strip. The unprecedented attack started a war between Israel and Hamas. Immediately after the October 7 attack, an intensive wave of worldwide antisemitism followed, which also had a profound effect on the Czech Republic.

Monthly statistics demonstrate a substantial increase in antisemitism in the last quarter of 2023. Whereas 2,528 incidents were registered in January-September, i.e. 58.41%, a further 1,800 incidents were registered in October-December, representing 41.59%. For January-September 2023, the average monthly increase compared to 2022 was 50.03%. In the period October – December, the average increase was 254.32%.

Regarding the spread of antisemitism, all major ideologies have become active in the last five years. Until 2019, the biggest threat to the Jewish community was posed by far-right extremism. In the years 2020-2023, in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic and Russian aggression against Ukraine, the influence of disinformation platforms significantly strengthened. After the October 7 terrorist attack, the activities of the far-left and Islamism accelerated. Anti-Jewish hatred largely in the form of demonisation and delegitimisation of the State of Israel made a significant entry into the public domain in 2023 and became a socially acceptable attitude. The aggressiveness of antisemitic incidents, which were increasingly targeted at specific persons or institutions, intensified. Anti-Jewish attitudes were adopted and spread by more and more individuals who otherwise showed no sympathy for political or ideological extremism.

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