Rising anti Semitism in Malmo

star-of-david-littleJewish residents in the southern Swedish city of Malmo are being increasingly targeted by anti-Semitic threats and harassment, causing many to flee the city out of safety concerns.

“Threats against Jews have increased steadily in Malmo in recent years and many young Jewish families are choosing to leave the city,” said Jewish Community of Malmo leader Fredrik Sieradzki in a report by The Local. “Many feel that the community and local politicians have shown a lack of understanding for how the city’s Jewish residents have been marginalised”.

In 2009 there were 79 crimes reported to Malmo police against Jewish residents, representing a 50 percent increase from the previous year according to media reports.

“That probably doesn’t tell the whole story because not everyone chose to make a report. Perhaps they fear they will add to an already infected situation,” said Susanne Gosenius, a Skane police crimes coordinator, to the media which have published several articles on the rising anti-Semitism in Malmo. Synagogues and Jewish cemeteries have also suffered repeated vandalism and anti-Semitic graffiti, while last year also saw the firebombing of a Jewish burial site chapel in Malmo.

There is presently an estimated population of 3,000 Jews living in southern Sweden, predominantly around Lund, Helsingborg and Malmo although the Jewish community in the latter has been steadily declining.

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