Antisemitic and Anti-Muslim Incidents Surge in Germany in 2023

Germany saw a significant increase in both antisemitic and anti-Muslim incidents in 2023, with the RIAS group documenting 4,782 antisemitic incidents, an 83% rise from the previous year, and the CLAIM alliance recording 1,926 anti-Muslim incidents, a 114% increase. Many of these incidents were linked to heightened tensions following the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel. Critics argue that the conflation of antisemitism with criticism of Israel and the normalization of anti-Muslim racism have exacerbated these issues. Jewish institutions in Germany remain under heavy police protection, while the rise in anti-Muslim sentiment is seen as partly driven by the far-right Alternative for Germany party. Both RIAS and CLAIM highlight that the actual number of incidents may be higher due to underreporting and insufficient attention from authorities.