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Last update - 07:31 07/06/2007
Human Rights First: Hate crimes, anti-Semitism on rise in Europe
By Amiram Barkat, Haaretz Correspondent

Anti-Semitism and hate crimes rose last year in several places throughout Europe, according to a report released on Wednesday by the American advocacy group Human Rights First.

The report says more than 50 people were killed in Russia because of their ethnic origin, and Britain has seen a sharp rise in anti-Semitism and hate crimes since the terror attacks in London on July 7, 2005.

The report was published before an international conference to open in Bucharest on Thursday, sponsored by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
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The conference will discuss the struggle against anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism and xenophobia. The OSCE has 55 member-countries, including Israel.

The director of Human Rights First, Maureen Byrnes, said a number of governments, including France, Germany and Britain, had taken steps against hate crimes, but other countries remained indifferent.

The report states that those who attack Jews in Europe use criticism of Israel and its policies to justify their actions. It says Muslims are attacked in the street as a response to Islamic terror by people who see every Muslim as a legitimate target.

The report also said violence against homosexuals was no less serious than racist hatred. Only two countries in Europe, Britain and Sweden, document homophobic crimes separately, though hatred of gays came to the fore in 2006, among other instances, at Gay Pride parades in Warsaw, Moscow, Bucharest, Riga and Tallinn.

The report focuses on five European countries: Britain, France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine. It noted a sharp rise in anti-Semitism in Britain as well as a rise in Ukraine and France. The number of anti-Semitic crimes in Germany remained stable in 2006 after two years of rises.

Hate crimes in London motivated by religion climbed by as much as 600percent following the July 7, 2005 bombings on the London mass transport system.

The report notes that religious and ethnic minorities are subject to "particularly lethal violence" in areas of the former Soviet Union: 54 cases of murder and 540 cases of serious violence stemming from racial hatred were documented in Russia in 2006. The numbers were 31 and 413 the previous year.

In several cases, those accused of serious hate crimes were released by a court. In Ukraine, where precise data was not collected, reports indicated a sharp rise in crimes against foreigners, particularly blacks.

In France, hate crimes fell by 10 percent, among other things, due to major efforts by the government. However, the number of anti-Semitic crimes rose by 6.6 percent in 2006.
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  1.   HATE 02:01  |  sweis Melbourne 07/06/07
  2.   re: #1. 02:38  |  Carl 07/06/07
  3.   re: Hate one 03:27  |  Omran 07/06/07
  4.   Carl-Thanks 03:47  |  The Cid 07/06/07
  5.   THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWWEN 04:46  |  TOBIA (AN AMERICAN) 07/06/07
  6.   Why? 06:57  |  Ali 07/06/07
  7.   #6, Ali, "why?" 09:01  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 07/06/07
  8.   A DIRECT CORRELATION 09:11  |  indrajaya 07/06/07
  9.   Dummy `Human Rights Group` 09:33  |  Rowan Berkeley 07/06/07
  10.   indrajaya is right 09:42  |  American in Paris 07/06/07
  11.   Europe bashing again 09:57  |  Leona 07/06/07
  12.   Did HRF take note? 10:14  |  Curious 07/06/07
  13.   Indraraya #8, that is absurd. 10:14  |  sg 07/06/07
  14.   Do not delude yourselves into believing that criticising.. 10:33  |  David 07/06/07
  15.   Excuse me David #14 10:58  |  sg 07/06/07
  16.   Euope is hateful place 10:59  |  NatJus 07/06/07
  17.   # 13, SG 11:03  |  indrajaya 07/06/07
  18.   I have no problem with this article... 11:30  |  Edith 07/06/07
  19.   Indrajaya is wrong 11:36  |  Edith 07/06/07
  20.   Leona -- assumedly you read 11:37  |  bbl 07/06/07
  21.   Indrajaya -- if we all employed that twisted logic... 11:41  |  bbl 07/06/07
  22.   # 16 Europe is not so bad 11:41  |  Edith 07/06/07
  23.   To NatJus 12:08  |  Lena 07/06/07
  24.   #13 American in Paris 12:10  |  Joseph of England 07/06/07
  25.   #14 david 12:14  |  Joseph of England 07/06/07
  26.   HOW ABOUT THE RISE OF ISLAMOPHOBIA IN AMERICA? 12:31  |  Patrick 07/06/07
  27.   Indrajaya 12:39  |  Serge 07/06/07
  28.   Are there gays in Jerusalem? 13:00  |  Nicholas Ferriman 07/06/07
  29.   The Three Aunties 13:03  |  Ronnie Wolman 07/06/07
  30.   Zionism and Judaism are like chalk and cheese 13:16  |  David 07/06/07
  31.   # 7 Cipora Julianna Kohn. Hamas is a liberation organiation. 13:28  |  Nick Ferriman 07/06/07
  32.   Old cures for new wounds never work 13:42  |  American in Paris 07/06/07
  33.   #14 OH YES IT IS DAVID WHEN ONLY ISRAEL IS ATTACKED 13:47  |  paul harris 07/06/07
  34.   IJV actually rejects BBD info monopoly 13:55  |  David 07/06/07
  35.   #8 Hate is an emotional need of the hating individual 13:58  |  Sensible 07/06/07
  36.   #15 to SG - Read what I said properly please 14:01  |  David 07/06/07
  37.   INDRAJAYA.Apply"direct correlation" to the behaviour of Moslem 14:01  |  PETER SM 07/06/07
  38.   ROWAN BERKLEY.Please give your "internet sources"that say this is 14:37  |  PETER.SM 07/06/07
  39.   Always bashing these innocent Europeans 14:38  |  Jonathan S 07/06/07
  40.   #6 Ali the racist 14:46  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/06/07
  41.   N Ferriman.How convenient for haters."Liberation organisation" 15:06  |  PETER SM 07/06/07
  42.   # 28 David, please read 15:17  |  Alicia 07/06/07
  43.   #28 NICK WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO PARADE ?? 15:37  |  paul harris 07/06/07
  44.   #26 IT EQUALS THE RISE OF DHIMMITUDE AMONGST MOSLEMS PATRICK 15:38  |  paul harris 07/06/07
  45.   #31 Harris becomes rabid and incoherent. Again. 15:42  |  David 07/06/07
  46.   Correlation Between Indrajaya and Brutality 15:45  |  Tex 07/06/07
  47.   Europe Hate Crimes 15:45  |  Michal Rothschild 07/06/07
  48.   Nick Ferriman: HAmas IS a Liberation Movement 16:09  |  Ronnie Wolman 07/06/07
  49.   Advice to US human rights group 16:10  |  Mark B. 07/06/07
  50.   #24 re American in Paris 16:11  |  Timothy 07/06/07
  51.   To Michael Rothschild on Israeli freedom for Arabs 16:16  |  Mark B. 07/06/07
  52.   Poor David. So Misunderstood 16:18  |  Tex 07/06/07
  53.   to sg from the US 16:23  |  TAZ 07/06/07
  54.   to Natjus 16:26  |  TAz 07/06/07
  55.   #39/Jonathan S 16:46  |  Lena 07/06/07
  56.   Criticism-free zone for Jews 16:46  |  Ted 07/06/07
  57.   To Jonathan S. on Europe`s and jewish innocence 17:09  |  Mark B. 07/06/07
  58.   I live in South Africa 17:37  |  zebulonguy 07/06/07
  59.   Paul #43 -- There are many 17:37  |  bbl 07/06/07
  60.   Curious is it not enough 17:45  |  zebulonguy 07/06/07
  61.   Mark B 17:50  |  zebulonguy 07/06/07
  62.   #45 DAVID BURSTS INTO TEARS AM I BEING UNFAIR? 18:03  |  paul harris 07/06/07
  63.   #59 THE RIO CARNIVALS I ATTENDED HAD TRANSVESTITES ANDHOMOSEXUALS 18:05  |  paul harris 07/06/07
  64.   Nick Ferriman You are so wrong 18:15  |  zebulonguy 07/06/07
  65.   Question: Define a Semite? 18:32  |  Sharif Hafez 07/06/07
  66.   # 41 Peter SM 18:37  |  Nick Ferriman 07/06/07
  67.   any survivor? North Korea? let`s read and travel 18:39  |  ben 07/06/07
  68.   # 43 Paul Harris 18:50  |  Nick Ferriman 07/06/07
  69.   We#re not perfect in Europe 18:54  |  Deano 07/06/07
  70.   13 & 17 19:45  |  Nabil 07/06/07
  71.   #1 Muslims in France 20:04  |  Nabil 07/06/07
  72.   The only democracy in the Middle East 20:13  |  wibism 07/06/07
  73.   Zebulonguy 20:24  |  Nick Ferriman 07/06/07
  74.   sg, you may not agree 20:28  |  christa 07/06/07
  75.   Don`t worry Carl #2 20:29  |  Denton 07/06/07
  76.   Europe and Anti Semitism 21:00  |  Connie 07/06/07
  77.   Rise related to Israeli policies 21:06  |  Tosefta 07/06/07
  78.   *73* Nick Ferriman, You are absouletly right 21:30  |  New Generation 07/06/07
  79.   unfortunately only a kick in the pants will cause aliya 21:36  |  observer 07/06/07
  80.   re: #75 21:46  |  Carl 07/06/07
  81.   Muhammad the most popular name in UK 21:49  |  Jonathan S 07/06/07
  82.   #68 nick flies in the face of HUMAN RIGHTS 22:15  |  paul harris 07/06/07
  83.   48/Ronnie Wolman, Yes it is a legitimat liberation movement. 22:20  |  New Generation 07/06/07
  84.   #72 MORE OF WIBISM AND IDEALISM 22:20  |  paul harris 07/06/07
  85.   Jonathan S: Muhammad 22:23  |  Ronnie Wolman 07/06/07
  86.   Quite amazed @ how many rise to the baiter from Jakarta #17 23:01  |  Ari ben Yisrael 07/06/07
  87.   response to Connie on L`Europe 23:11  |  Mark B. 07/06/07
  88.   #65 SHARIF AND THE MYTHICAL KHAZARS 23:12  |  paul harris 07/06/07
  89.   To Mark B. about European guilt and arrogance 23:16  |  Jonathan S 07/06/07
  90.   NICK FERRIMAN.The topic was antisemite not just anti Israel.You 23:17  |  PETER. S.M 07/06/07
  91.   N.FERRIMAN .the definition of slaveryAmerican Heritage dictionary 23:26  |  PETER SM 07/06/07
  92.   @79 observer 23:26  |  Mark B. 07/06/07
  93.   Response to zebulonguy 23:32  |  Mark B. 07/06/07
  94.   zebulonguy, you are one ignorant person 23:53  |  Mark B. 07/06/07
  95.   David #30, you radiate ignorance 00:08  |  Jake 08/06/07
  96.   A word game of definitions 00:16  |  Natallie Durson 08/06/07
  97.   @82 Jonathan S. 00:25  |  Mark B. 08/06/07
  98.   I will Tell you about 00:28  |  Jean Louis 08/06/07
  99.   EUROPE IS NO LONGER SAFE 00:40  |  Jeremy 08/06/07
  100.   Mark B. You love for Hezbollah and Hamas is touching. 00:50  |  Marko 08/06/07
  101.   nicholas ferriman dont come to gaza 00:51  |  jihad 08/06/07
  102.   #77, Tosefta 01:29  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/06/07
  103.   #58 Zebulonguy 01:41  |  tad 08/06/07
  104.   #87 Mark; perhaps you should repeat your post 01:50  |  tad 08/06/07
  105.   #31, Nick Ferriman 02:33  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/06/07
  106.   #88, Cipora J.C. to Tosefta. 03:12  |  zmogus 08/06/07
  107.   # 81 Jonathan S 03:29  |  Axel 08/06/07
  108.   # 63 Paul the harris 03:38  |  Axel 08/06/07
  109.   Did it ever realy go down 03:57  |  Dr David I. Gross 08/06/07
  110.   How many angels can dance on a spike? (Cipora #88) 04:03  |  Tosefta 08/06/07
  111.   #4, The Cid 04:26  |  Hannah 08/06/07
  112.   # 84 Peter SM. 04:30  |  Nick Ferriman 08/06/07
  113.   # 91 Cipora Juliana Kohn 04:42  |  Nick Ferriman 08/06/07
  114.   NMFERERIMAN The Palestnians have self determination it was Hamas 04:54  |  PETER SM 08/06/07
  115.   Tosefta 04:54  |  sweis Melbourne 08/06/07
  116.   # 85 Peter SM. Anti-Semitism 05:01  |  Nick Ferriman 08/06/07
  117.   Carl 05:02  |  sweis Melbourne 08/06/07
  118.   axel 05:11  |  sweis Melbourne 08/06/07
  119.   #14, David 05:18  |  Hannah 08/06/07
  120.   #40, Peter Sm. 05:35  |  Hannah 08/06/07
  121.   YOU CAN"T MAKE THE BLIND SEE_IDIOTS! 05:42  |  JON FEIGENBAUM 08/06/07
  122.   #82 MARK B SURRENDER!! 05:55  |  Jon Feigenbaum 08/06/07
  123.   Jean Louis 07:34  |  Connie 08/06/07
  124.   N.FERRIMAN.An organisation that calls for the death of ALL Jews 08:38  |  PETER SM 08/06/07
  125.   American in Paris wait a second! 09:21  |  sg 08/06/07
  126.   David - what I want 09:27  |  sg 08/06/07
  127.   To Nick Ferriman. Not have to be a marxist or lefti just ignorant 09:57  |  AA 08/06/07
  128.   #120 Jon Fiegenbaum 10:35  |  Tony Price 08/06/07
  129.   #76. Conie and Europe and anti-Semitism. And Bruce Willis too. 11:34  |  zmogus 08/06/07
  130.   Invasion 12:37  |  Marco Borg 08/06/07
  131.   #22 Antisemitism Alive and Well in Europe 18:32  |  Albert 08/06/07
  132.   Anti-semitism in CANADA 04:27  |  Shauna 09/06/07
  133.   # 124 Peter SM. You confuse cause with effect. 11:37  |  Nick Ferriman 09/06/07
  134.   # 127 AA. Point 1. Yours is a good definition of terror. 11:58  |  Nick Ferriman 09/06/07
  135.   # 127 AA. Point 2. Hezbollah`s defence. 12:15  |  Nick Ferriman 09/06/07
  136.   Reply to Jon Feigenbaum 121 01:30  |  Careful Reader 10/06/07
  137.   Ted # 56 19:50  |  Barry 18/10/07
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