The Czech Republic witnessed an alarming rise in antisemitic incidents in 2023, reaching unprecedented levels, according to the Federation of Jewish Communities. Their annual report revealed a staggering 4,694 antisemitic cases, marking an 8.5% increase from the previous year’s 4,328 incidents. This surge was particularly pronounced following the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, which ignited the Gaza conflict and triggered a 90% spike in antisemitic reports. Petr Papousek, head of the Federation, emphasized that this wave of hatred is part of a global phenomenon, fueled by the demonization of Israel and amplified by far-right, far-left, Islamist, and disinformation media groups. Papousek noted that antisemitism has become socially acceptable, with public discourse increasingly dominated by anti-Israel narratives. Nearly 96% of incidents occurred online, primarily through social media platforms. However, the report also documented four physical attacks—a record high—all linked to the Middle East conflict. Additionally, cases of desecration of Jewish cemeteries and monuments doubled to 12. In one notable incident, five teenagers were arrested for attempting to set fire to a synagogue in Brno, radicalized by the Islamic State group. Despite these troubling developments, the report affirmed that the Czech Republic remains a safe country for its Jewish community.
Jewish community in the Czech Republic reports record number of antisemitic incidents in 2024
