Antisemitic incidents in the Czech Republic reached record levels in 2024, the Federation of Jewish Communities said Friday in its annual report, according to the Associated Press.
The community registered 4,694 incidents last year, an 8.5% rise from 4,328 in 2023. The previous year had already seen a 90% surge following the Hamas massacre of October 7 and the subsequent war in Gaza.
Petr Papousek, head of the Federation, said the Czech Republic was no exception to “a global explosive wave of antisemitism which erupted immediately after the Hamas attack.”
He warned that hatred of Jews, particularly through demonization of Israel, has become “a socially acceptable attitude” dominating public space. Papousek described “an unprecedented synergy” between the far right, far left, Islamism and disinformation media, adding, “The unifying element is hatred of Israel, which works with the motives, narratives, conspiracies and myths of traditional antisemitism.”
Nearly 96% of incidents occurred online, mostly on social media, the data showed, but four physical attacks were recorded in 2024 compared to none the year before, all linked to the Middle East conflict.
Twelve cases of desecration of cemeteries, monuments and other Jewish property were also reported, double the number from 2023.
In January, five teenagers were detained after attempting to torch a synagogue in Brno. Police said they were radicalized online by Islamic State propaganda, charging two with terror-related crimes.
Despite the rise, the report concluded that the Czech Republic remains a safe country for Jews.