European human rights body notes ‘rise in violent anti-Semitic incidents’ in annual report
In its annual report, a European human rights body noted “a rise in violent anti-Semitic incidents” in some countries and urges member States to give high priority to the fight against ant-Semitism, the European Jewish Press reports.
Each year, as an introduction to its annual report, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) outlines the main trends in the fields of racism, xenophobia, racial discrimination, xenophobia, anti-Ssemitism and intolerance in Europe.
Based in Strasbourg, ECRI is part of the Council of Europe and is composed of independent experts who prepare reports and issues recommendations to the 47 Council member states.
In its latest report, ECRI said acute financial instability and a subsequent increase in resentment and prejudice against immigrants, Muslims and Roma people in particular, are some of the worrying trends identified during country visits in 2012. ECRI also notes that xenophobic parties have attracted increasing support and representation in the parliaments of several European countries, and a marked rise in racially motivated hate speech via the internet.
“Some have a blatantly neo-Nazi agenda, advocating racist action or violence in particular against immigrants, Roma and Jews,” ECRI writes, adding that voices are being raised against EU-backed funding for such parties.
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(Photo: Clive Leviev-Sawyer)
