Study: Anti-Semitism, Homophobia on Rise in Europe

Anti-Semitism and homophobia are on the rise in Europe, according to an annual study of social trends involving xenophobia.

For the first time, the “German Situation” study, conducted by the University of Bielefeld Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on Conflict and Violence under sociologist Wilhelm Heitmeyer, included attitudes in other European countries.

The study, released Sunday, found that fear of Islam and hatred of Muslims has dropped slightly since 2008 in Europe, and that general xenophobia, sexism and racism have declined as well. Overall, Germans are no more xenophobic now than in 2002, when the first study was conducted.

But an increase in anti-Semitism could be linked to economic fears, social psychologist Beate Kupper told reporters Sunday.

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up to their jew and gay hating tricks again.

:eyes:

If there are 10 hate crimes in 2008 and 20 in 2009 that's a 100% increase in hate crimes!!!!

And that's a true fact, mm hmmm.

I confess to annoyance with the railroaded conclusions, but I do agree that increases in XENOPHOBIA of any kind are almost always related to economic fears, and have nearly always been so, historically speaking.

Try reading the article in whole, not just the blurb.

under most circumstances straw does not spontaneously combust.

:P

I have a company to run - that's my day job. I only let myself play if I can get in and out in a few seconds - and click through articles are not conducive to that.

Not saying I lack curiosity - just time.

"On the topic of anti-Semitism, 41.2 percent of Europeans overall agreed with the anti-Semitic stereotype that Jews try to use the Holocaust for their own benefit. According to the study, 72 percent of Poles—the highest of any country—agreed with the statement, while Dutch citizens were least likely to agree, at 5.6 percent.

Nearly one-quarter of all Europeans agreed with the statement that “Jews have too much influence.” Almost one-third agreed that “Jews in general do not care about anything or anyone but their own kind.”

That should say something right there. Let's not forget recent events in http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-france-muslims1-2009dec01,0,965955.story">France and Switzerland.

Such massive assaults on religious freedom is disturbing, because it shows that there is an underlying societal bigotry at work. I at times fall prey to looking idyllically across the ocean toward Europe, but then I realize that the grass always appears greener on the other side until you get there. That's when you realize that they have issues of their own, and for all the (many, many) faults of America, it is still the better nation. Especially for those seeking to exercise the freedom of speech and religion.

...is http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4182842">this link from LBN. It's a report of Anti-Muslim graffiti found on a French mosque, and if you scroll down the thread you'll see some people largely dismissing it.

Thanks for the link.