Czech Republic sees rise in online antisemitism

The Federation of the Jewish Communities of the Czech Republic has reported a rise in antisemitism, though still believed that antisemitism was at a relatively low level compared with other European countries and remained safe for Jews.

In its annual report, the Federation said that 2020 had seen 874 antisemitic incidents compared with around 690 the previous year. Some 98 percent, however, took place online and included conspiracy theories and antisemitic groups and individuals who blamed Jews for the pandemic and claimed that vaccination served Jewish financial interests.

Anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination networks have become known as hotbeds of antisemitic conspiracy theories and tropes.

While noting that the vast majority of anti-Jewish hatred was online, it said that in 2020 there had been one physical attack, one attack on Jewish property, and six incidents involving antisemitic threats, harassment and verbal insults.

The report stated that its “analysis of violent antisemitic attacks and the profiles of their perpetrators” confirmed that “a violent act” was invariably preceded by “expressions of hatred vented on the internet, especially on social media.”

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