report on antisemitic incidents in denmark 2013

8/12/2019 Report on Antisemitic Incidents in Denmark 2013

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An example of one of several stickers with extreme right-wing

messages found at the entrance to the Copenhagen Synagogue in

October 2013

Front page picture: A painted can the appearance of which brings to

mind explicit associations with the Holocaust was found on the fence in

front of the Copenhagen Synagogue in May, 2013

Published by the Jewish Community in Denmark1st edition


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Contents

1. Executive Summary

2. Introduction

2.1.1. On AKVAH

2.1.2. Contents of the report

3. Theory and method

3.1.1. The concept of antisemitism

3.1.2. Categorization of an incident as antisemitic

3.1.3. Collection of data

4. Description and analysis of registered antisemitic incidents in 2013

4.1.1. Antisemitic incidents in 2013

4.1.2. Overall development from 2012 till 2013

4.1.3. Development from 2012 till 2013 divided into categories

4.1.4. Development from 2012 till 2013 divided into months

4.1.5. Number of antisemitic incidents as a yardstick of antisemitism in Denmark

5. Overview of registered antisemitic incidents in 2013

5.1.1. Assault situations and physical harassment

5.1.2. Overview of assault situations and physical harassment

5.2.1. Threats

5.2.2. Overview of threats

5.3.1. Antisemitic utterances

5.3.2. Overview of antisemitic utterances

5.4.1. Vandalism

5.4.2. Overview of vandalism

6. Antisemitism and terrorism

6.1. Suspicious behavior nearby Jewish institutions

6.2. Brief description of suspicious behavior nearby Jewish institutions


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1. Executive Summary

This report offers a description and analysis of the number of registered

antisemitic incidents in Denmark in 2013. The report was drawn up on the

basis of cases reported to AKVAH which is part of the security unit in the

Danish Jewish Community.

In 2013, AKVAH registered up to 43 antisemitic incidents divided into the

following categories: assault situations and physical harassment, threats,

antisemitic utterances and acts of vandalism. The incidents can be divided into

four cases which can be categorized as assault situations and physical

harassment, 3 cases of threats, 31 cases of antisemitic utterances and 5

cases of vandalism.

It was assessed that out of the 43 registered antisemitic incidents, six

incidents only can be characterized as potentially antisemitic.

The registered number of 43 antisemitic incidents in 2013 roughly corresponds

to the number of registered incidents in 2012 and namely 41. Consequently,

no improvement took place despite increased political vigilance as

demonstrated for example by a hearing on antisemitism in Copenhagen that

was organized by the Copenhagen Municipality in February, 2013. Actually,

the hearing led to a number of additional antisemitic incidents and especially

so in the case of a young Danish teenager who decided to come forward and

tell his story.

On the positive side, however, the number of assault situations and cases of

physical harassment decreased by half from 8 in 2012 to 4 in 2013 and the

number of instances of vandalism decreased from 8 in 2012 to 5 in 2013.

Moreover, no cases of discrimination against Jews were registered in 2013.

However, the number of threats has remained unchanged so that both in 2012

and 2013 3 incidents were registered and the number of antisemitic utterances

rose from 17 to 31. Thus, antisemitic utterances characterize almost 75% of

the aggregate number of registered incidents in 2013.

A comparison of the number of registered incidents spread over 12 months of

a year shows that, in particular, September differs markedly from the rest of

the year because approximately one third of the incidents in both 2012 and

2013 took place during precisely that month. During these two years, there

were many Jewish Holidays in September and, consequently, there was a

larger than usual presence of Jews in the public space nearby Jewish

institutions and the Copenhagen Synagogue where many of the incidents

occurred. This indicates than an increase in the visibility of Jews in the public

space entails an increase in the number of antisemitic incidents.


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It is not evident to which extent the number of antisemitic incidents reflects the

actual level of antisemitic sentiment in Denmark. First of all, there is some

uncertainty whether the number of registered antisemitic incidents reflects the

real number of incidents. The real figures probably constitute a bit of a grey

area because, as a rule, AKVAH only registers incidents reported by people

who approach it. Secondly, it is possible that that the number of antisemitic

incidents remains at an artificially low level because many Jews eschew

visibility for fear of antisemitism. In other words, one could probably expect a

higher number of incidents if Danish Jews were more prominent in the street

scene.

2. Introduction

2.1. On AKVAH

In 2011, the Jewish Community in Denmarks security unit (1) (JSD) set up

AKVAH - Section for Mapping and Sharing of Knowledge about Antisemitic

Incidents. AKVAHs activity purports to document occurrences of

antisemitism in Denmark. This effort is part of a general European policy

designed to highlight a widespread problem of hate crimes including

antisemitism which torment Europe (2,3). Therefore, on behalf of the

organization Nordic Jewish Security Council (NJSC), AKVAH participates

as a cooperating partner in the EU-funded European anti-hate crime

project Facing Facts (4). The purpose of the project is to get civil society

organizations involved in and to streamline the work of registering hate

crimes.

AKVAH also offers various types of support for victims of antisemitism

including assistance in approaching public authorities , legal counseling

and referral to crisis help. Moreover, AKVAH provides information about

occurrences of antisemitism in Denmark. Consequently, AKVAH

participates in two projects dealing with discrimination and hate-crimes in

Denmark. The first of these projects deals with discrimination supervision

and it is run by the Municipality of Copenhagen. In connection with this

project AKVAH arranged a number of lectures on antisemitism in Denmark.

The second project is conducted by the Police Department on the island of

Funen, it deals with hate-crimes on the island and AKVAH participates in

this project as a cooperating partner of behalf of the Jewish Community of

Denmark. In addition to these two projects, AKVAH pays calls on

interested partiesin 2013, AKVAH visited associations and high schools

all over Denmark and provided information about antisemitism in Denmark.


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2.2. The contents of this report

This report contains a description and analysis of the number of antisemitic

incidents in Denmark in 2013 which AKVAH registered on the basis ofoccurrences reported over the course of that year. The report was elaborated

on the basis of a comprehensive effort aimed at mapping antisemitic incidents

and required the adoption of a significant number of theoretical and

methodological choices pertaining to collection, sorting, processing and

presentation of data on antisemitic incidents. In this regard AKVAH structured

its report work based on three main objectives: the collection, sorting,

processing and presentation of data must be methodologically stringent, as

open as possible without compromising the identity of the victims and must

and it must result in access to useful information about occurrences of

antisemitism in Denmark.

The report is structured in the following fashion: section 3 of the report

presents selected, important aspects of the theoretical and methodological

background for the work of registering antisemitic incidents. Firstly, an

explanation of what is meant by the concept of antisemitism is provided,

followed by a description of how the authors of this report chose to deal with

the issue of when to categorize an incident as antisemitic. Finally, an

explanation follows as to how the collection of data on antisemitism takes

place in real life and what are some of the implications of this approach.

Section 4 of this report contains a description and analysis of the registered

number of antisemitic incidents in 2013. These incidents are compared with

the number of incidents in 2012 by examining whether there was a change in

the aggregate number of incidents, whether the breakdown of incidents into

various categories did change and, finally, whether there was a shift in the

distribution of incidents over the months. Furthermore, the said changes or

lack thereof are subject to an analysis. This part of the report is concluded by

a section containing reflections as to the extent to which the registered

incidents reflect the level of antisemitic sentiment in Denmark.

Section 5 of the report contains an overview of registered antisemitic incidents

in Denmark in 2013. All of the incidents were described and categorized by

incident type and, in addition, they offer whenever such information was

provided by reporting individuals a variety of details which, potentially, can

be used for the purpose of acquiring a better understanding of the

phenomenon of antisemitism in Denmark.

Section 6 of the report provides an examination of terror threats against

Danish Jews. Particular emphasis is placed on suspicious behavior nearbyJewish institutions in Denmark. AKVAH chose to render public information on


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this topic in light of the fact that Danish-Jewish institutions operate under a

terror threat which it is important to highlight.

I have scars. These are not scars on my body but on my soul. (Said by a Danish-Jewish

victim of antisemitism during a hearing at the Copenhagen City Hall in February, 2013)

Hearing about harassment of Jews at the Copenhagen City Hall in February 2013.


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3. Theory and method

3.1. The concept of antisemitism

Any attempt at recording occurrences of antisemitism presupposes an

understanding of what is covered by the concept of antisemitism. In short,antisemitism can be described as a negative prejudice against Jews and

hostility or hate aimed at them because they are Jews. However, there is no

general consensus as to how broadly the concept of antisemitism is to be

perceived (5). A central problem is how to distinguish between antisemitic and

anti-Israeli incidents. AKVAH opted to make use of a relatively broad

understanding of antisemitism in that negative incidents when randomly

chosen Jews are either blamed for the policies of the State of Israel or are

directly identified with the existence of Israel, are categorized as antisemitic.

3.2. Categorization of an incident as antisemitic

When AKVAH is notified about a possibly antisemitic occurrence, it makes a

decision whether to register the incident or not. In this context, it is important to

consider which criteria must be met for the occurrence to be classified as

antisemitic. AKVAH chose to define an occurrence as antisemitic when a

perpetrator was driven by an antisemitic motive (6). It can never be

established with absolute certainty than an antisemitic motive was at play in a

given situation. Instead, an assessment originating in an interpretation of

available information must be made.

As an interpretation tool it is useful to categorize ones data on the basis of so-

called antisemitism indicators. These are circumstances surrounding an

incident which indicate whether a perpetrator was or was not motivated by

antisemitism (7). In theoretical literature various types of indicators are not

weighted against each other (8) but AKVAH made the methodological decision

to distinguish between primary and secondary antisemitism indicators. As a

primary indicator AKVAH defines the actions of a perpetrator which by means

of words, symbols, images etc. express carry an antisemitic message. Such

an action (as for example the utterance Jewish pig) can be an isolatedepisode or it can take place in connection with another action (for example an

assault, an act of vandalism etc.) which is then tainted by the antisemitic

contents of the first occurrence. If it is established that such primary

antisemitism indicators apply to the first occurrence, AKVAH decided to

establish a rule of presumption according to which the perpetrator was driven

by an antisemitic motive. In such cases an occurrence is defined as antisemitic

unless there circumstances pertaining to the situation which clearly point in a

different direction.

As secondary antisemitism indicators AKVAH defines the remainingcircumstances surrounding a situation which can indicate that an occurrence


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has an antisemitic character. Among circumstances of this type can be the

time of the occurrence, circumstances pertaining to the person performing an

act, the location where the act is performed and several other factors and

situations. In situations to which only secondary antisemitism indicators apply,

it is AKVAHs methodological policy that no rule of presumption shall apply.

Instead, a cautious estimate in a given situation will determine whether an

occurrence has an antisemitic character or not. If there are circumstances

which point to an occurrence with an antisemitic character but the so-called

smoking gun is still missing, AKVAH includes such potentially antisemitic

occurrences in its overview of registered antisemitic occurrences. However,

with the explicit reservation that there is some uncertainty as to whether a

perpetrators actions were driven by an antisemitic motive.

In its overview of registered antisemitic occurrences in 2013 (see section 5)

AKVAH included six potentially antisemitic occurrences with the explicitreservation that there was uncertainty as to the antisemitic character of the

occurrence. For example, four of these occurrences apply to desecration of

Jewish cemeteries. In none of the these cases were there any antisemitism

indicators such as antisemitic graffiti or suchlike. The reason why,

nevertheless, the four cases were included in the overview of antisemitic

occurrences in 2013with the explicit reservation that a perpetrators motive

could not be established with certainty is that desecration of Jewish

cemeteries is a classic example of antisemitic misconduct. In this manner it

was deemed that the secondary antisemitism indicator that is the location of

the incident and absence of circumstances which could disprove the

antisemitic nature of the incident in question have provided a sufficient

rationale for including such cases of vandalism in the incident overview for

2013.

AKVAH includes these potentially antisemitic incidents in its overview of

registered antisemitic incidents because the purpose of the overview is to

contribute knowledge about the phenomenon of antisemitism in Denmark. If

one sets the bar too high with regard to the quality of ones data, the data will

show that the problem is too insignificant in relation to the real scope (10) ofthe problem and, conversely, if one sets the bar too low. The solution adopted

by AKVAH was to find a middle ground between the two above-mentioned

approaches, and, therefore, the above six potentially antisemitic incidents

were included in the overview of registered antisemitic incidents, but due to

uncertainty that surrounds them the term was used that AKVAH registered up

to 43 incidents. Also, it is explicitly emphasized in the specific descriptions of

each one of the six potentially antisemitic incidents that in the situations in

question there was uncertainty with regard to the motives of the perpetrator.

3.3. Data collection


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Antisemitic incidents are reported to AKVAH by phone, mail and during

personal meetings and AKVAH is approached in this way by victims,

witnesses and acquaintances of victims. Whenever possible, every approach

is examined by means of in-depth interviews and analysis of photographs and

video material when available. Despite the examination of reported cases it

must be recognized that the foundation of this report on antisemitism in

Denmark is only based on how victims and witnesses perceived a given

situation. One must bear this in mind when reading about the incidents in the

report.

It must also be stressed that, as a rule, AKVAH only registers incidents when

people report them to AKVAH on their own and, consequently, the real

number of occurrences of antisemitism is probably higher. Therefore, there

must be some grey area with regard to the numbers. Moreover, AKVAH does

not take a stand with regard to antisemitism on the web. Its scope has reachedsuch dimensions that registering it would be an insurmountable task. The only

exception to this rule occurs when there is a special reason to deal with a

specific website or suchlike (11).

4. Description and analysis of registered antisemitic incidents in 2013

4.1. Antisemitic incidents in 2013

In 2013, AKVAH registered up to 43 antisemitic incidents in Denmark. The

incidents can be divided into the following categories (12, 13):

1. Assault situations and physical harassment

2. Threats

3. Antisemitic utterances

4. Vandalism

AKVAH registered 4 cases which can be place in the category of assault

situation and physical harassment, 3 cases of threats, 31 cases of antisemitic

utterances and 5 cases of vandalism (see the graphic presentation in diagram1). Consequently, it can be established that, in 2013, antisemitic utterances

constitute almost 75% of the aggregate number of antisemitic incidents.


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Diagram 1: Registered antisemitic incidents in 2013

As mentioned in section 3.2, it was assessed that out of the 43 incidents, there

are only 6 incidents which can be defined as potentially antisemitic. These 6

incidents can be divided into the following categories: one of the 6 incidents is

falls within the category of assault situation and physical harassment and the

remaining 5 incidents are characterized as acts of vandalism.

If one chooses to deduct these 6 potentially antisemitic incidents from theaggregate number of registered incidents, one will arrive at the number of 37

antisemitic incidents in 2013. The following comparisons in sections 4.2, 4.3,

and 4.4 to the number of registered incidents in 2012 are carried out on the

basis of 43 incidents because AKVAH, as mentioned in section 3.2, deems it

relevant to include the 6 potentially antisemitic incidents in this reports

overview of registered antisemitic incidents in 2013 (14).

4.2. Development from 2012 till 2013 taken together

The number of 43 antisemitic incidents registered by AKVAH in 2013 roughlycorresponds to the number of 41 incidents registered by AKVAH in 2012 (15).

Thus, there was no major change in the aggregate number of registered

antisemitic incidents from 2012 till 2013. It is noteworthy that the number of

incidents did not decrease since 2012. The problem of antisemitism in

Denmark has been exposed to extensive media coverage and, consequently,

appeared on the political agenda on several occasions. And so, in February,

2013, politicians from the Civic Representation of the Copenhagen

Municipality held a hearing on antisemitism in Copenhagen. The hearing

ensued from notices in the press to the effect that Danish Jews were advised


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not to place their children in schools in the Copenhagen neighborhood of

Norrebro.

The purpose of the hearing was to focus on antisemitism in Copenhagen.

Paradoxically, it later turned out that the hearing itself gave rise to further

antisemitic incidents. A young Danish Jew who decided to come forwardduring the hearing and, consequently, on national TV, to tell about his

experiences with antisemitism was, at a later stage, exposed to threats and

several antisemitic utterances on the part of people who recognized him due

to his appearance on TV (this case is described in a more detailed fashion in

section 5). This story clearly illustrates that focusing on antisemitism in

Denmark carries a price.

4.3 Development from 2012 till 2013 divided into categories

Although no major change occurred in the number of registered antisemiticincidents, there was, however, a shift in the division into categories of the

incidents from 2012 till 2013 (see the graphic illustration in diagram 2). As a

positive change, the number of assault and physical harassment incidents

decreased by half from 8 in 2012 to 4 in 2013. The number of acts of

vandalism also decreased by almost half from 8 in 2012 to 5 in 2013. Whereas

there were 2 occurrences of discrimination of Jews in 2012, in 2013 there

were no registered occurrences. On the other hand, the number of registered

threats remained unchanged with 3 registered incidents in both 2012 (16) and

2013 and the number of registered antisemitic utterances rose from 17 to 31incidents (17).

To conclude, let it be mentioned that in 2012, 3 cases of suspicious or

threatening behavior were registered nearby the Jewish School in

Copenhagen. In 2013, it was decided not to include such incidents in the

aggregate number of registered antisemitic incidents (18). However, it is

relevant to make them public knowledge and they will be presented at the end

of this report (section 6) (19).

Despite the changes that occurred from 2012 till 2013, it can be concludedthat antisemitic utterances still prevail as the dominant form of antisemitism in

Denmark. With regard to the shift in the breakdown of incidents into categories

no conclusive reasons can be quoted. Therefore, it must be assumed that the

main reason must ensue from natural fluctuations from year to year. However,

it is noteworthy that the number of antisemitic utterances almost doubled from

2012 till 2013.


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Diagram 2: Development from 2012 till 2013 divided into categories

4.3. Development from 2012 till 2013 divided over the months of theyear

If one looks at the breakdown of incidents over a period of 12 months of a

year, one will notice a rather even and identical breakdown in both 2012

and 2013 (see graphic presentation in diagram 3). In both years, with the

exception of September (2012 and 2013) and February (2013) there were

between 0-4 antisemitic incidents a month. In particular, September (both

in 2012 and 2013) differs from other months of the year in that markedlymore antisemitic incidents took place during that month. In 2012, 14 (20)

incidents took place in September and 16 in September, 2013.

Consequently, one third of the incidents in a whole year took place in

September.


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A possible explanation is that during these two years there were many

Jewish Holidays in September (21) and that, consequently, there was a

larger than usual presence of Jews in the public space around Jewish

institutions and the Copenhagen Synagogue. When one analyses the

character of the incidents in September, it will appear that several of these

incidents take place near synagogues (5 of the incidents in September,

2013). It is therefore a well-founded assumption that an increase in the

visibility of Danish Jews in the public space entails an increase in the

number of antisemitic incidents.

4.4. Number of antisemitic incidents as a yardstick of the level

antisemitism in Denmark

To conclude, it makes sense to make a few comments on the extent to

which registered antisemitic incidents can be used for the purpose of

interpreting the level of antisemitism in Denmark. It ensues from section

3.3. that there is some uncertainty as to the extent to which the number ofregistered antisemitic incidents reflects the real number of incidents that

took place in 2013. The section shows that registered incidents are based

exclusively on victims and witnesses perception of a given situation. It

also appears that the real number of antisemitic incidents in Denmark is

somewhat of a grey area as AKVAH, as a rule, does not itself search for

information about antisemitism. Nor does AKVAH track antisemitic material

on the web because this type of work requires too many resources.


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In addition to problems pertaining to the number of registered incidents,

there is also uncertainty as to the extent to which the registered antisemitic

incidents can be used for the purpose of interpreting the actual level of

antisemitism in Denmark. In this connection one may note that most

Danish Jews only very rarely display their religious affiliation in public. It is

also an educated guess that only one third of the total number of Danish

Jews are members of a Jewish congregation (22) and, therefore, visible

Jewish institutions such as a synagogue are only visited by a limited

number of Danish Jews. If one. If one compares the last two bits of

information with the conclusion in section 4.4 that an increase in the

visibility of Danish Jews in the street scene apparently entails an increase

in the number of antisemitic incidents, then there is ample indication that it

is not the lack of potential perpetrators but, actually, the generally low

visibility of Danish Jews that is the main reason why the number of

registered antisemitic incidents is not higher. In other words, one couldexpect the number of antisemitic incidents to rise if Danish Jews were more

prominent in the street scene.

A crucial question is now why Danish Jews are not more visible in public?

AKVAH did not examine this issue in a systematic fashion and although

one possibly could point out a variety of various factors which cause the

Danish Jews to keep a low profile it would nevertheless be reasonable to

assume that many Danish Jews are highly aware of the risk of being visiblein public. It is therefore a justified assumption that the number of

antisemitic incidents remains at an artificially low level because many

Danish Jews deliberately avoid visibility for fear of antisemitism. If one

accepts this interpretation, then the registered number of up to 43

antisemitic incidents in 2013 hardly reflects the real level of antisemitic

sentiment in Denmark.

5. Overview of registered antisemitic incidents in 2013.

This section presents up to 43 antisemitic incidents that were registered in

2013. As previously mentioned, it was assessed that out of the 43

incidents, 6 incidents only could be defined as potentially antisemitic. It will

explicitly appear from the descriptions below which specific incidents are

here referred to.

The up to 43 incidents are divided into 4 different categories:


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1. Assault and physical harassment

2. Threats

3. Antisemitic utterances

4. Vandalism

Each description of an incident contains information, if provided, about the

perpetrator, the victim, the month and the location where an incident took

place, and more general information about the incident including

circumstances which served to assign the incident into one of the above 4

categories including circumstances that show the antisemitic motive behindthe incident. In the future, an in-depth analysis of the above information will

possibly be used to deepen the understanding of the phenomenon of

antisemitism in Denmark.

5.1.1. Assault and physical harassment

This category covers every type of assault or physical harassment aimed at

one or several persons including stone-throwing. The category also

includes cases of failed assault that is cases when a potential either

managed to put up a successful defense or fled and also cases when avictim was not hit by a stone thrown at it.

In 2013, there were 4 incidents which can be characterized as assault or

physical harassment. With regard to one of these incidents it is not obvious

whether the motive was antisemitism.

5.1.2. Overview of assaults and physical harassment

January, 2013

An old Jew with a cap on his head is assaulted by an ethnic Danish male ata train station in Copenhagen. The perpetrator shouts

antisemitic utterances such as Fucking Jew or Jewish pig and he hits

and kicks the victim several times. The victim has several of his teeth

knocked out.

Spring, 2013

During a softball tournament at school with the participation of several

hundred of pupils from many different schools in Copenhagen, a 13-year

old Jewish boy stands in the middle of a group which numbers both hisclassmates and a group of Palestinian boys from another school. Some of


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the Jewish boy's classmates tell the Palestinians boys that it is funny that

they are Palestinians and that he is Jewish. One of the Palestinian boys

asks the Jewish boy: "What's your name? Because then my dad will come

and kill you". The Jewish boy doesn't answer and moves away from the

group. One of the Palestinian boys throws a stone at him.

May, 2013

In Copenhagen, an elderly, Danish-Jewish man gets waylaid by a group of

Middle Eastern looking young men who notice that he is wearing a

Holocaust commemoration badge (Jizkor) with an Israeli flag on his coat.

They ask him: "Are you Israel?". The man answers that he is Danish. The

group then asks him whether he is Jewish. He doesn't answer and moves

away from the group. One of the young men runs after him and knocks off

his hat and his cap. The Jewish man runs after him but in vain. Another one

of the young follows the Jewish man all the way to the doorstep of his

apartment. Nothing more happens because the other members of the

group eventually manage to convince their friend to stop.

June, 2013

A group of school pupils from a neighboring school walk past the premises

of the Jewish school and kindergarten in Copenhagen and two Middle

Eastern looking boys who bring up the rear decide to stop and throw three

stones inside the kindergarten. The teacher who leads the group did not

notice anything. Afterwards, the principal of the stone-throwing boys' school

is notified about the incident and says that he will get in touch with the boys'

parents. However, it is not evident that the boys' behavior was motivated by

antisemitic sentiment.

5.2.1 Threats

The category covers specific threats directed at individuals, groups or

institutions. Vague or general threats are not included and, instead, they

are included as general antisemitic utterances.

In 2013, 3 incidents were registered and they can be characterized as

specific threats aimed at specific individuals, groups or institutions.

5.2.2 Overview of threats

At 20.30 in the evening, during a visit in Copenhagen, an Israeli, cap-

wearing rabbi walks into a 7-Eleven store located in the walking mall near

the City Hall Square in Copenhagen. Inside the store he encounters two

Middle Eastern looking men. One of the men looks at him and strokes his

throat with his forefinger in a throat-slashing gesture. The rabbi hurriesaway.


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September, 2013

A man, presumably from Greenland, walks past the Copenhagen

Synagogue and says to the guard who stands outside that "all Jews must

die. There is a bomb in the synagogue tonight and all the Jews shall die".

The police get notified and they pick up the man who was obviouslyintoxicated.

September, 2013

A Jewish teenager who, on several occasions was insulted in 2013 after

being presented as a victim of antisemitism at a hearing arranged by

politicians from the Civic representation of the Copenhagen Municipality

(see below) gets a call from an unlisted number. The caller introduces

himself as someone from the TV. He says that the TV would like the

youngster to appear on a show and tell about his experiences and that theyshould meet. The Jewish teenager hears people speaking Arabic in the

background and says that he doesn't believe that the caller is from the TV.

This causes the man to call him "a Jewish pig" and say that "he knows

where the youngster lives". Then, the youngster hangs up.

5.3.1. Antisemitic utterances

The category is an overriding, overall designation of derogatory, hateful,

prejudiced and similar utterances aimed at an individual, a group or an

institution. However, antisemitic utterances can however be heard, read orgenerally perceived by people who are not specifically targeted by these

utterances. The category encompasses both written and oral utterances

and utterances which contain a symbolical language in the form of pictures,

sounds and suchlike.

In 2013, 31 incidents which can be characterized as antisemitic, were

registered.

5.3.2. Overview of antisemitic utterances

February, 2013

Seven young Middle Eastern looking young men walk by the Copenhagen

Synagogue in the evening. When they pass by the guard at the entrance to

the synagogue, one of the young men suddenly shouts: "Israel is going to

die".

February, 2013

A Danish-Jewish man on his way to the synagogue suddenly overhears a

Middle Eastern looking boy who stands on the sidewalk opposite theentrance to the Copenhagen Synagogue together with a group of boys who


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held that the act was within the boundaries of artistic freedom of

expression.

June, 2013

Four Middle Eastern looking 15-17-year-old boys took up positions in frontof the Copenhagen Synagogue where they started battering the fence and

spat on the grounds of the Synagogue. When asked repeatedly to leave

the area and warned that the police would be notified the boys answered

by spitting and shouting: "Fuck Israel", "Fuck the Jews" and "Allah U

Akhbar".

June and September, 2013 (4 incidents)

A Danish-Jewish youth soccer club is exposed to gross antisemitic catcalls

in connection with four different soccer games in Copenhagen (one matchin June and the three others in September). During one of the matches the

"Heil Hitler" salute was heard.

July, 2013

During a soccer game in a 1st division soccer match, a professional soccer

player with a Danish mother and an Israeli father hears someone shouting

"Jew pig" at him. The perpetrator turned out to be a fan of the soccer

player's own club. The club reacted by banning the perpetrator from all of

the club's activities.

August, 2013

A group numbering among others Belgian Jews walks down the street after

attending prayers at the Copenhagen Synagogue on a Saturday morning.

There are about 8-10 persons in the group and they are wearing caps. A

silver-colored car slows down when passing the group and the driver

shouts angry words at them.

August, 2013

In the neighborhood of Osterbro, a group of Jews of whom some wear caps

hear someone shout from the window of a car: "Fucking Jews". The accent

is clearly Middle Eastern.

September, 2013

A presumably East European man shouts outside the Copenhagen

Synagogue: "The Jews have their own country. Now, they are taking over

everything. Make room for the Jews. They took over Ukraine. And now,

they are taking over Europe and "Heil Hitler".

September, 2013


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Two elderly, ethnically Danish men walk past the Copenhagen Synagogue

and then one of them says in a hateful tone to the guard who stands

outside the synagogue: "Do you serve pork here?" The other man says to

the first while they walk on: "Well, these guys are ok".

September, 2013

A middle-aged, ethnically Danish man walks by the entrance of the

Copenhagen Synagogue and hisses either "Nazis" or Racists".

September, 2013

A passer-by shouts "Fucking Jews" and "Go back to your country" outside

the Copenhagen Synagogue.

September, 2013 (2 incidents)

Presumably, a man from Greenland who, on earlier occasions, made a

bomb threat against the synagogue, on two occasions at least, shouts

antisemitic insults at cap-wearing Jews in the Copenhagen Royal Garden

and near the Copenhagen Synagogue.

September, 2013

A group of young, Danish Jews get talking to a Greek in a Copenhagen bar

and he finds out that they are Jews. Later in the evening, the Greek joins

the group again and, unprovoked, declares that Israel destroys his worldoutlook. He says that he wonders how as a Jew it is possible to accept the

treatment meted out to Palestinians by Israel. He says that one must be an

evil person if one sides with Israel and that Jews are dishonest and cheats

and that Israel created an apartheid state.

September, 2013

Three Middle Eastern looking men walk past the Copenhagen Synagogue

and one of them makes a Nazi salute.

October, 2013

In broad daylight, a group of ethnically Danish men who were all wearing a

kind of camouflage outfit with green jackets, caps and suchlike walk past

the Copenhagen Synagogue and shout various antisemitic slogans and

also "Six mi-ll-ion ha ha ha // six mi-ll-ion ha ha ha". They also place

several "stickers" at the entrance to the yard of the Synagogue. The

stickers read: "Denmark for Danes" and "Danes, this is your country,

become active, Denmark's National Front".

October, 2013


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A svastika carved into an inner wall was found at the Royal Theater in

Copenhagen in connection with a commemoration of the rescue of Danish

Jews in October, 1943. However, it was not possible to establish whether

the Nazi symbol had been there for a longer period of time or whether it

had been carved in the wall due to the commemoration.

October, 2013

During a class excursion to Germany, a Jewish teacher at a Copenhagen

school notices that two pupils with a Middle eastern background make Nazi

salutes in class and comment that it was a shame that Hitler did not finish

the job.

November, 2013

In the same school where a Jewish teacher noticed pupils making Nazisalutes, a Muslim girl declares in class that all Jews must die. The Jewish

school teacher hears about it from a teacher colleague who was present

during the incident in class. When the Jewish teacher confronts the pupil

regarding the latters utterance, the pupil apologizes.

November, 2013

During a lantern party at a kindergarten when all the kids carry a small

battery-driven lantern and sing a special lantern song, one of the kids

lanterns breaks down. The kid is up in arms but her favorite minderimmediately reacts and comforts her. However, the kids Jewish

grandmother overhears the minders comforting words: This is because a

Jew made the lantern.

5.4.1. Vandalism

The category covers acts of vandalism targeting Jewish property or

institutions.

In 2013, 5 incidents were registered which can be characterized as acts of

vandalism targeting Jewish property or institutions. However, in all of thesecases it is not clear whether the acts were motivated by antisemitic

sentiment.

5.4.2 Overview of acts of vandalism

May, 2013

A Jewish cemetery in the neighborhood of Norrebro in Copenhagen is

desecrated in connection with the Copenhagen Street Festival called

Distortion

September, 2013 (3 incidents)


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A Jewish cemetery in Horsens is vandalized three times within two weeks.

The first time seven gravestones are overturned. The gravestones are

righted and glued. One week later, 15 gravestones are overturned. The

third time, also a number of gravestones get overturned.

December, 2013

In connection with an event at the Copenhagen City Hall celebrating the

Jewish Hanukkah, a large eight-arm candlestick is set up and lighted at the

City Hall Square. After lighting of the candlestick, the participants enter the

City Hall leaving behind the unprotected candlestick. When the organizers

return later on, they notice that the candlestick was overturned and slightly

damaged. It is assumed that due to its weight the candlestick was

overturned deliberately.

5. Antisemitism and terrorism

6.1. Suspicious behavior near Jewish institutions

For many years now, antisemitism and terrorism have been intertwined. In

a report from 2010, the British NGO Community Security Trust establishes

that since 1968 there have been 437 registered terror attacks and failed or

interrupted terror plans aimed at Jewish and Israeli targets outside of the

Middle East (25). As far as the more specific terror threat aimed at Danish

Jews is concerned, one can point out a number of circumstances that

confirm that such a threat has existed for a very long time now.

In the 1980s, a Danish terror group called the Blekinge gang established

what the press named a Jewish dossier which contained information

about a great many Danish Jews (26). In July, 1985, the Copenhagen

Synagogue was bombed by Arab terrorists which meant that ever since all

Jewish institutions in Denmark had to install security equipment. Later in

1985, a Jewish store was bombed. In 1988, a Polish-Jewish club was

firebombed. In 1999, a Danish woman, Ulla Lyngby, was detained in Israel

because she had tried to smuggle money into Israel. It later turned out that

the woman had cooperated with a Palestinian terror gang which planned to

assassinate the then chief rabbi of Copenhagen, Bent Melchior and

Herbert Pundik, editor-in-chief of a major Danish daily, Politiken (27). In

2009, an American Moslem, David Headley who was subsequently

convicted of terror activity, traveled to Denmark where he photographed a

number of different locations including the Copenhagen Synagogue (28).

Since Danish Jews are exposed to a real terror threat which requires

gathering of information in order to be implemented, AKVAH deems it

relevant to render public information on suspicious behavior near Jewish

institutions in Denmark.


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A number of incidents that can be characterized as suspicious behavior

have been registered near Jewish institutions. As it is assessed that there

is a great deal of uncertainty regarding the purpose of the said suspicious

behavior, AKVAH decided not to add incidents in this category to the

aggregate number of antisemitic incidents in 2013. However, as it is still

deemed relevant to visualize incidents of this type, it was decided, instead,

to present an illustrative extract in this separate section of the report.

6.2. Extract of cases of suspicious behavior near Jewish institutions

January and June, 2013

On two occasions in 2013, two women who had no real business being

there, circled the Jewish school in Copenhagen which is surrounded by a

fence and metal doors. On both occasions, the women were taking

photographs of the school grounds.

March, 2013

A car drives up to the front entrance of a Danish store. A man who had no

real business being there gets out of the car, crosses over to the opposite

side of the building and takes photographs of the building. Then, he drives

off.

April, 2013

A man with no real business there stops in front of the entrance to the

Copenhagen Synagogue and takes a number of pictures of the lock on the

gate.


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(1) In January, 2014, the Danish Mosaic Religious Community (Mosaisk Troessamfund)

decided to change its name into the Danish Community in Denmark

(2) Both in England and France, the Jewish communities publish reports on antisemitism.

See for example:

http://www.thecst.org.uk/docs/Incidents%20Report%202012.pdf

http://dl.antisemitisme.org/REPORT%202012.pdf

(3) In 2013, the European Agency for Fundamental Rights made a survey of how Jews in

a number of European countries (but not Denmark) experience and perceive:

http://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2013/technical-report-fra-survey-discrimination-and-

hate-crime-against-jews-eu-member.

(4) http://www.ceji.org/facingfacts/

(5) There is uncertainty in theoretical literature as to how to define antisemitism. In 2005,

the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (now the EuropeanAgency for Fundamental Rights) elaborated a working definition of antisemitism which

many NGOs have been using: http://www.european-forum-

onantisemtism.org/working-definition-of-antisemitism/dansk/danish. For info on the

background of the definition also see: http://thecst.org.uk/inex.cfm?Content=6.

However, in 2013, the European Agency for Fundamental Rights decided to abandon

this working definition without offering an alternative:

http://www.jta.org/2013/12/04/news-opinion/world/eu-anti-racism-agency-unable-to-

define-antisemitism-official-says. In this report AKVAH decided to rely on the afore-

mentioned working definition of antisemitism. With the reservation, however, that, in

practice, one can be confronted with situations that force one to expand or narrow

down ones understanding ofAntisemitism.

(6) In this context as well, AKVAH was inspired by the afore-mentioned working definition.

However, with the same reservation as mentioned in footnote 5. In order to see an

example of a wider understanding of when to classify an incident as antisemitic, see

the entry in the British NGO Community Security Trust:

http://www.thecst.org.uk/index.cfm?Content=6

(7) In this context, AKVAH is inspired by the concept of prejudice indicators which are

used to establish whether a hate crime was committed. See for example:

http://www.ceji.org/media/Guidelines-for-monitoring-of-hate-crimes-and-hate-

motivated-inicdents-PROTECTED.pdf,p. 13-15

(8) Ibid., p. 13-15

(9) Ibid., p.14-15

(10) AKVAH was not created until 2011, but the Jewish Community in Denmark

(previously the Mosaic Religious Community) has been registering antisemitic

incidents in Denmark for the last ten years and these numbers show that antisemitism

is a problem. To get an overview of these numbers, see for example: Nielsen,

Flemming Steen & Therkel Straede (ed.)(2009): Hate of Jews in Danish media.

Denmarks Media Museum, Copenhagen, p.58

(11) As an example one can mention that, in 2013, a Jewish teenager was insulted byseveral users on Facebook (the incidents are described in a more detailed fashion in

section 5).
http://www.thecst.org.uk/docs/Incidents%20Report%202012.pdfhttp://www.thecst.org.uk/docs/Incidents%20Report%202012.pdfhttp://dl.antisemitisme.org/REPORT%202012.pdfhttp://dl.antisemitisme.org/REPORT%202012.pdfhttp://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2013/technical-report-fra-survey-discrimination-and-hate-crime-against-jews-eu-memberhttp://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2013/technical-report-fra-survey-discrimination-and-hate-crime-against-jews-eu-memberhttp://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2013/technical-report-fra-survey-discrimination-and-hate-crime-against-jews-eu-memberhttp://www.ceji.org/facingfacts/http://www.ceji.org/facingfacts/http://www.european-forum-onantisemtism.org/working-definition-of-antisemitism/dansk/danishhttp://www.european-forum-onantisemtism.org/working-definition-of-antisemitism/dansk/danishhttp://www.european-forum-onantisemtism.org/working-definition-of-antisemitism/dansk/danishhttp://thecst.org.uk/inex.cfm?Content=6http://thecst.org.uk/inex.cfm?Content=6http://www.jta.org/2013/12/04/news-opinion/world/eu-anti-racism-agency-unable-to-define-anti-semitism-official-sayshttp://www.jta.org/2013/12/04/news-opinion/world/eu-anti-racism-agency-unable-to-define-anti-semitism-official-sayshttp://www.jta.org/2013/12/04/news-opinion/world/eu-anti-racism-agency-unable-to-define-anti-semitism-official-sayshttp://www.thecst.org.uk/index.cfm?Content=6http://www.thecst.org.uk/index.cfm?Content=6http://www.ceji.org/media/Guidelines-for-monitoring-of-hate-crimes-and-hate-motivated-inicdents-PROTECTED.pdfhttp://www.ceji.org/media/Guidelines-for-monitoring-of-hate-crimes-and-hate-motivated-inicdents-PROTECTED.pdfhttp://www.ceji.org/media/Guidelines-for-monitoring-of-hate-crimes-and-hate-motivated-inicdents-PROTECTED.pdfhttp://www.ceji.org/media/Guidelines-for-monitoring-of-hate-crimes-and-hate-motivated-inicdents-PROTECTED.pdfhttp://www.ceji.org/media/Guidelines-for-monitoring-of-hate-crimes-and-hate-motivated-inicdents-PROTECTED.pdfhttp://www.thecst.org.uk/index.cfm?Content=6http://www.jta.org/2013/12/04/news-opinion/world/eu-anti-racism-agency-unable-to-define-anti-semitism-official-sayshttp://www.jta.org/2013/12/04/news-opinion/world/eu-anti-racism-agency-unable-to-define-anti-semitism-official-sayshttp://thecst.org.uk/inex.cfm?Content=6http://www.european-forum-onantisemtism.org/working-definition-of-antisemitism/dansk/danishhttp://www.european-forum-onantisemtism.org/working-definition-of-antisemitism/dansk/danishhttp://www.ceji.org/facingfacts/http://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2013/technical-report-fra-survey-discrimination-and-hate-crime-against-jews-eu-memberhttp://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2013/technical-report-fra-survey-discrimination-and-hate-crime-against-jews-eu-memberhttp://dl.antisemitisme.org/REPORT%202012.pdfhttp://www.thecst.org.uk/docs/Incidents%20Report%202012.pdf


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(12) A number of modifications of categories were carried out since last years report. First,

the name of the category antisemitic assault was changed to assault situations and

physical harassment. Second, the name of the category verbal antisemitism was

changed to antisemitic utterances. This changes are made for the sake of linguistic

accuracy. Third, the category threats which was a sub-category of the category verbal

antisemitism became a category in its own right. This change is due to the fact that

incidents which are categorized as threats are deemed to have such a serious

character that they stand out from other types of antisemitic utterances and should,

consequently, represent an independent category. Taken together, these changes do

not affect the comparison of the number of incidents in 2012 and 2013.

(13)Moreover, in last years report, discrimination incidents and incidents which were

categorized as suspicious or threatening behavior near the Jewish school were

registered. In 2013 no discrimination incidents were registered. With regard to the

other category that is suspicious or threatening behavior near the Jewish school, in

this years report AKHVAH decided not to include such incidents in the aggregate

number of antisemitic incidents in 2013. See section 4.3 and footnote 18 for further

comments.

(14) In this content it must be mentioned that although the analysis in the following

sections was based on lower numbers which obtain if one disregards the potentially

antisemitic incidents in both 2012 and 2013, this would not impact on the overriding

conclusions of the report.

It appeared from last years report that up to 40 incidents were registered. Moreover, AKVAH has

registered an additional incident in 2012 which was categorized as a threat and therefore the

aggregate number of incidents is 41. Based on the victims testimony, the incident can be described in

the following fashion: In September, 2012, a Jewish woman walks into a pizzeria in Copenhagen. The

woman wears a long skirt and a blouse buttoned all the way up to the collar. An ethically Danish male

customer in his mid-forties turns to the woman, questions her about her peculiar clothes and asks

whether she is a member of some strange religious congregation as for the example the Amish. The

woman answers that she is Jewish and that she doesnt think that her religion is strange. The

customer gets very upset, raises his voice and keeps hollering for the next 7-8 minutes. He tells the

woman to go back to Israel where all the Jews come from. He says that the Jews are responsible for

the economic decay in Europe and that they run the world from an economic point of view. Moreover,

the man says that Israel is bombing and killing little children and that Barack Obama is also Jewish.

He says that she ought to be killed and that all Jews ought to be killed and that all Jews must be

exterminated. In the beginning the woman tried to protest but becomes increasingly shocked as the

man is getting ever more furious. Eventually, she picks up the pizzas and almost runs out of the

pizzeria while looking over her shoulder. To her great relief, the man does not follow her. After this

episode the woman stopped wearing a Davids star (on that day, by the way, she did not wear it).

(16) Notice that only one of the threat incidents in 2012 is described in this reports footnote 15.

(17) It appeared from last years report that 19 incidents of verbal antisemitism were registered in

2012. In this report the term verbal antisemitism was changed into antisemitic utterance. Two of these

19 incidents were about threats which, in this report, were registered in a category of their own. In

order to compare the number of antisemitic utterances mentioned in this years report with the number

of incidents mentioned in last years report it is necessary to deduct the number of threats from the

number of antisemitic utterances which were mentioned in last years report. In this way one reaches

the number of 17 incidents of antisemitic utterances in 2012.

(18) Motivated by the March 2012 terror attack on a Jewish school in Toulouse in France, AKVAHdecided in last years report to include incidents categorized as suspicious or threatening behavior


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near the Jewish school in Copenhagen into the aggregate number of antisemitic incidents. In this

years report AKVAH decided that such incidents would not be part of the aggregate count as it must

be recognized that there is too much of uncertainty in connection with the antisemitic aspect of these

incidents. In this way AKVAH makes its method (more) compatible with registration of antisemitism as

it is practiced in other European countries. See for example:

http://www.tcecst.org.uk/docs/Incidents%20Report%202012.pdf.p29

(19) AKVAH decided that it is relevant to inform about suspicious behavior near all Jewish institutions

in Denmark. Suspicious behavior near the Jewish school shall therefore be presented under this more

general category in section 6 of the report.

(20) Notice that one of these September incidents is only described in this report's footnote.

(21) The Jewish calendar differs from the Gregorian one so that the dates of Jewish holidays can vary

in relation to the latter.

(22) See for example:http://www.mosaiske.dk/om-mtandhttp://jewmus.dk/dk/faq

(23) Even taking into consideration that a sizable part of non-members of the Jewish Community inDenmark visit visible Danish, Jewish institutions, it is reasonable to assume that including their number

shall not add up to the aggregate number of Jews in Denmark.

(24) The statement was abbreviated due to security considerations.

(25)http://www.thecst.org.uk/docs/CST%Terrorist%20Incidents%201968%20-%202010.pdf,see p. 3

(26) For example read: Knudsen, Peter Ovig (2008): The Blekinge Gang. Complete extended edition.

Gyldendal publishing house. Copenhagen, p. 476 ff.

(27) For example read:http://www.information.dk/214425

(28) For example read:http://ekstrabladet.dk/112/article1245390.eceIt is noteworthy that is hinted,

albeit indirectly, in an editorial in Berlingske,http://m.b.dk/?article=1837155-Hvor-er-den-danske-

forbindelsethat the Synagogue was never a goal in itself but, on the contrary, just a tool which David

Headley could use to get closer to his target and, namely, the cultural editor of the newspaper

Jyllands-Posten whom he mistakenly took for a Jew. However, AKVAH believes that even if one

adopts this thesis, it just cannot be denied that David Headley or his accomplices in Pakistan, although

they erred about Rose's faith, may have planned to carry out a terror attack against the Synagogue.

Pictures: Front page picture: A painted can the appearance of which stirs associations with the

Holocaust was set up on the fence in front of the Copenhagen Synagogue in May, 2013.

Page 2; Example of one of many "stickers" with radical right-wing messages was found at theentrance to the Copenhagen Synagogue in October, 2013.

Photo: JSD

Page 6: Upper pictureSlideshare.net/NarendraMalhotra

Lower pictureMartin Lehmann/Politiken

Page 8: JustNU

Page 11: Jspace

Page
http://www.tcecst.org.uk/docs/Incidents%20Report%202012.pdfhttp://www.tcecst.org.uk/docs/Incidents%20Report%202012.pdfhttp://www.mosaiske.dk/om-mthttp://www.mosaiske.dk/om-mthttp://www.mosaiske.dk/om-mthttp://jewmus.dk/dk/faqhttp://jewmus.dk/dk/faqhttp://jewmus.dk/dk/faqhttp://www.thecst.org.uk/docs/CST%25Terrorist%20Incidents%201968%20-%202010.pdfhttp://www.thecst.org.uk/docs/CST%25Terrorist%20Incidents%201968%20-%202010.pdfhttp://www.thecst.org.uk/docs/CST%25Terrorist%20Incidents%201968%20-%202010.pdfhttp://www.information.dk/214425http://www.information.dk/214425http://www.information.dk/214425http://ekstrabladet.dk/112/article1245390.ecehttp://ekstrabladet.dk/112/article1245390.ecehttp://ekstrabladet.dk/112/article1245390.ecehttp://m.b.dk/?article=1837155-Hvor-er-den-danske-forbindelsehttp://m.b.dk/?article=1837155-Hvor-er-den-danske-forbindelsehttp://m.b.dk/?article=1837155-Hvor-er-den-danske-forbindelsehttp://m.b.dk/?article=1837155-Hvor-er-den-danske-forbindelsehttp://m.b.dk/?article=1837155-Hvor-er-den-danske-forbindelsehttp://m.b.dk/?article=1837155-Hvor-er-den-danske-forbindelsehttp://ekstrabladet.dk/112/article1245390.ecehttp://www.information.dk/214425http://www.thecst.org.uk/docs/CST%25Terrorist%20Incidents%201968%20-%202010.pdfhttp://jewmus.dk/dk/faqhttp://www.mosaiske.dk/om-mthttp://www.tcecst.org.uk/docs/Incidents%20Report%202012.pdf


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13: Paul Prescott/Fotolia.com

Page 14: Photo: JSD

Page 17: Photo: Horsens Municipality/JSD

Page 18: B.T.Jan Soegaard, Bent Melchior was to be murdered on Tuesday, March 28, 1989

Page 20: Photo: JSD

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