When great international turmoil breeds hatred. Disinformation and Jew-hatred have “bloomed” on the internet since the start of the Russian invasion, exacerbating a process already set in motion by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a European report published on Thursday. “The coronavirus epidemic and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine have further fueled anti-Semitism, which remains a serious problem,” said Michael O’Flaherty, director of the European Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA).
According to this report, published in English, the European Union (EU) has investigated the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in June. “The risks of false narratives fuel anti-Semitism,” while Russia justified its war by using “terms like Nazi” to describe the government in Ukraine, according to FRA. “Jewish communities across Europe” have been “deeply affected” by online hatred surrounding the Russian invasion and outbreak, she continues.
In addition, the Vienna, Austria-based agency found that “recording of anti-Semitic incidents across Europe remains poor,” with collection differing in each country. Some, like Hungary and Portugal, do not collect official statistics, making comparisons between the 27 EU members impossible. In some countries, such as Austria or Finland, most of the recorded incidents happened on the internet. Brussels unveiled its first anti-Semitism strategy in 2021 and according to FRA, the European Commission will “publish implementation reports in 2024 and 2029”.