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The number of antisemitic incidents in Switzerland has reached an "unprecedented level" since the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre, according to a new report by the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities (SIG) and the GRA Foundation Against Racism and Antisemitism.
The report recorded 221 antisemitic incidents in 2024, compared to 155 in 2023 and just 57 in 2022. It highlights a sharp rise in physical violence this year, including an attempted arson attack on a synagogue and 11 assaults targeting Jewish individuals.
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Police officers guard the Agudat Achim synagogue in Zurich
(Photo: Arnd Wiegmann / AFP)
In 2024, antisemitic incidents in Switzerland increased by 43% compared to 2023 and by 287% compared to 2022. The number of antisemitic statements also grew significantly, with 103 cases reported in 2024, up from 38 in 2023 and only six in 2022.
One of the most serious incidents occurred in Zurich in March 2024, when a 15-year-old Swiss teenager of Tunisian descent stabbed an ultra-Orthodox Jewish man, who survived the attack. In a separate incident, there was an attempt to set fire to a synagogue in the city.
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The surge in antisemitism since October 7, 2023, has significantly impacted the Jewish community’s sense of security in Switzerland. Many now avoid displaying Jewish symbols in public out of fear of violence, the report states.
Jewish organizations in Switzerland are calling for stronger government action, including increased security at Jewish institutions and legal measures to combat hate speech on social media platforms.