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Released by the Bureau of Democracy,
Human Rights, and Labor
January 5, 2005
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/40258.htm
Executive Summary
Anti-Semitism in the Near East and North
Africa Region
Society and legislation in nations in the
region, except for Israel and Lebanon, reflect the views of an
overwhelmingly Muslim population and a strong Islamic tradition. At times,
both social behavior and legislation discriminated against members of
minority religions. Government efforts to limit or reprimand anti-Semitic
expressions have been infrequent, and governments in the region generally
have made only minimal efforts to promote anti-bias and tolerance education.
Anti-Semitic violence was almost entirely
associated with anti-Israeli terrorism and was not geographically
widespread. Numerous attacks occurred in Israel and in the Occupied
Territories, and incitements to violence originated from the Occupied
Territories. As well, terrorist bombings in Morocco in May 2003 and at the
Taba Hilton in Egypt in October were accompanied by communiqués containing
anti-Semitic as well as anti-Israeli statements. Terrorist organizations'
propaganda in the region frequently was anti-Semitic, as well as
anti-Israeli.
Anti-Israeli sentiment linked to the
Palestinian question was widespread throughout the Arab population in the
region and incorporated anti-Semitic stereotypes in the print and electronic
media, public discourse, religious sermons, and the educational system.
Additionally, there were some restrictions on Jewish citizens' ability to
participate in political life in Syria and Yemen.
Anti-Semitism in the media was the most
common form of anti-Semitism in the region. Anti-Semitic articles and
opinion pieces, usually rhetoric by political columnists, were published,
and editorial cartoons depicted demonic images of Jews and Israeli leaders,
stereotypical images of Jews along with Jewish symbols, and comparisons of
Israeli leaders to Hitler and the Nazis. These expressions occurred in
certain publications and were not common, but they did occur without
Government response in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United
Arab Emirates. Anti-Semitic articles appeared periodically in the Algerian
press without Government response. Apart from Israel and the settlements in
the Occupied Territories, the Jewish population in the region is very small.
Most of the Jewish population that previously lived in the region has
migrated to Israel, Europe, and North America. The "American Jewish Yearbook
2004" estimated the Jewish population in the region to have been: Israel
4,880,000; West Bank and Gaza 220,000; Iran 11,000; Morocco 5,500; Tunisia
1,500; Yemen 200; Egypt 100; and Syria 100.
Egypt
Anti-Semitic articles and opinion pieces
in the print media and editorial cartoons appeared in the press and
electronic media. For example, on March 18, Abdelwahab Ads, deputy editor of
Al Jumhuriya, accused the Jews of the terrorist attack in Madrid on March 11
as well as of the September 11, 2001, attacks.
On June 24 and July 1, the National
Democratic Party (NDP) newspaper al-Lewa al-Islami published articles by
Professor Refaat Sayed Ahmed in which he denied the Holocaust. On August 25,
the NDP announced that it had banned Professor Ahmed from future publishing,
that the editor who approved his article had been fired, and that the NDP
and the Government rejected anti-Semitism and acknowledged the reality of
the Holocaust.
The Government reportedly has advised
journalists and cartoonists to avoid anti-Semitism. Government officials
insisted that anti-Semitic statements in the media are a reaction to Israeli
government actions against Palestinians and do not reflect historical
anti-Semitism; however, there are relatively few public attempts to
distinguish between anti-Semitism and anti-Israeli sentiment.
On January 5, the Supreme Administrative
Court upheld a 2001 lower court decision to cancel the Abu Hasira festival
(for Jewish pilgrims) in the Beheira Governorate. In 2003, the Ministry of
Culture had designated Abu Hasira's tomb as a "historic site" and ruled that
an annual festival could be held. Villagers around the shrine protested,
claiming that the Jewish visitors aggravated the locals with their drinking.
In December 2003, following international
expressions of concern, the special collections section of the Alexandria
Library removed a copy of "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" from a
display of religious manuscripts. In a statement, the director of the
library denied allegations that the book had been displayed next to the
Torah, but nonetheless stated that its inclusion was a "bad judgment" and
regretted any offense the incident might have caused.
Iran
According to some NGOs, the media contained
anti-Semitic content, including articles and editorial cartoons. Although
Jews are a recognized religious minority with a reserved seat in parliament
(the Majlis), allegations of official discrimination were frequent. The
Government's anti-Israeli policies, along with a perception among radical
Muslims that all Jewish citizens support Zionism and Israel, created a
hostile atmosphere for the 11,000-member community. For example, many
newspapers celebrated the 100th anniversary of the publication of the
anti-Semitic "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion." Recent demonstrations
have included the denunciation of "Jews," as opposed to the past practice of
denouncing only "Israel" and "Zionism," adding to the threatening atmosphere
for the community.
The Government reportedly allowed Hebrew
instruction; however, it strongly discouraged the distribution of Hebrew
texts, which made it difficult to teach the language. Jewish citizens were
permitted to obtain passports and to travel outside the country, but they
often were denied the multiple-exit permits normally issued to other
citizens. With the exception of certain business travelers, the authorities
required Jewish persons to obtain clearance and pay additional fees before
each trip abroad. The Government appeared concerned about the emigration of
Jewish citizens, and permission generally was not granted for all members of
a Jewish family to travel outside the country at the same time. Jewish
leaders reportedly were reluctant to draw attention to official mistreatment
of their community due to fear of government reprisal.
Iraq
After the promulgation of the
Transitional Administrative Law in February, the former Governing Council
addressed the question of whether Jewish expatriates would be allowed to
vote in the 2005 elections. It announced that they would be treated like any
other expatriate group. The Government has also denied unfounded rumors
(sometimes spread in flyers distributed by antigovernment extremist groups)
that Jewish expatriates were buying up real estate in an attempt to reassert
their influence in the country.
Israel
Palestinian terrorist organizations,
including Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades
attacked Israelis and sometimes issued anti-Semitic statements following
their attacks.
The Government has actively sought to enlist
the international community, including international organizations, to
address anti-Semitism. Government officials routinely traveled to other
countries to discuss perceived problems of anti-Semitism in those countries.
Several local NGOs were dedicated to promoting tolerance and religious
co-existence. Their programs included events to increase Jewish-Arab
dialogue and cooperation.
Lebanon
Religious tolerance was integral to the
country's political system; however, the Arab-Israeli conflict and Israel's
occupation of South Lebanon nurtured a strong antipathy toward Israelis, and
Lebanese media often reflected that sentiment. Hizballah, through its media
outlets, regularly directed strong rhetoric against Israel and its Jewish
population and characterized events in the region as part of a "Zionist
conspiracy."
The TV series, Ash-Shatat ("The Diaspora"),
which centered on the alleged conspiracy of the "The Protocols of the Elders
of Zion" to dominate the world, was aired in October and November 2003 by
the Lebanon-based satellite television network Al-Manar, which is owned by
the terrorist organization Hizballah.
Morocco
Representatives of the centuries-old
Jewish minority generally lived throughout the country in safety; however,
in September 2003, a Jewish merchant was murdered in an apparently
religiously motivated killing. During the May 2003 terrorist attacks,
members of the Salafiya Jihadia targeted a Jewish community center in
Casablanca. After the attacks, Muslims marched in solidarity with Jews to
condemn terrorism. There have been thousands of arrests and many
prosecutions of persons tied to the May bombing and other extremist
activity. Annual Jewish commemorations normally took place around the
country, and Jewish pilgrims from around the region regularly came to holy
sites in the country. The Government actively promoted tolerance. Government
officials and private citizens often cited the country's tradition of
religious tolerance as one of its strengths.
Occupied Territories
Palestinian terrorist groups carried out
attacks against Israeli civilians. While these attacks were usually carried
out in the name of Palestinian nationalism, the rhetoric used by these
organizations sometimes included expressions of anti-Semitism.
The rhetoric of some Muslim religious leaders
at times constituted an incitement to violence or hatred. For example, the
television station controlled by the Palestinian Authority broadcast
statements by Palestinian political and spiritual leaders that resembled
traditional expressions of anti-Semitism.
In a sign of positive change, the Friday
sermon of December 3, broadcast on Palestinian Authority Television,
preacher Muhammad Jammal Abu Hunud called for the development of a modern
Islamic discourse, to recognize the "other," to treat him with tolerance,
and to avoid extremism and violence.
Saudi Arabia
There were frequent instances in which
mosque preachers, whose salaries are paid by the Government, used strongly
anti-Jewish language in their sermons. Although this language declined in
frequency since the May 2003 attacks in Riyadh, there continued to be
instances in which mosque speakers prayed for the death of Jews, including
from the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in Medina.
Anti-Semitic sentiments, ranging from
statements by senior officials to editorial cartoons, were present in the
print and electronic media. The local press rarely printed articles or
commentaries disparaging other religions.
NGOs have reported on intolerance in the
Saudi education system, and in particular the presence of anti-Semitic
content in some school textbooks. Saudi authorities have taken measures to
address these concerns, including in 2003 the wholesale review of textbooks
to remove content disparaging religions other than Islam.
The official Saudi tourism website previously
contained a ban on the entry of Jews among others into the Kingdom; on March
1, the Government removed this ban from the site replacing it with a
statement regretting "any inconvenience this may have caused."
Syria
The Government barred Jewish citizens
from government employment and exempted them from military service
obligations, due to tense relations with Israel. Jews also were the only
religious minority group whose passports and identity cards noted their
religion. Jewish citizens must obtain permission from the security services
before traveling abroad and must submit a list of possessions to ensure
their return to the country. Jews also faced extra scrutiny from the
Government when applying for licenses, deeds, or other government papers.
The Government applied a law against exporting any of the country's
historical and cultural treasures to prohibit the Jewish community from
sending historical Torahs abroad.
Several NGOs reported that the press and
electronic media contained anti-Semitic material. A Syrian production
company created a TV series, Ash-Shatat ("The Diaspora"), an anti-Semitic
program, and filmed it inside the country. The theme of this program
centered on the alleged conspiracy of the "Elders of Zion" to orchestrate
both world wars and manipulate world markets to create Israel. The show was
not aired in the country, but it was shown elsewhere. The closing credits of
the programs give "special thanks" to various government ministries,
including the security ministry, the culture ministry, the Damascus Police
Command, and the Department of Antiquities and Museums.
There were occasional reports of friction
between religious faiths, which could be related to deteriorating economic
conditions and internal political issues. For example, in 2003, there were
reports of minor incidents of harassment and property damage against Jews in
Damascus perpetrated by persons not associated with the Government.
According to local sources, these incidents were in reaction to Israeli
actions against Palestinians.
Tunisia
Since 1999, the Government has not
permitted registration of a Jewish religious organization in Djerba;
however, the organization performed religious activities and charitable work
unhindered. There were unconfirmed reports of a few incidents of vandalism
directed against the property of members of the Jewish community. The
Government took a wide range of security measures to protect synagogues,
particularly during Jewish holidays, and Jewish community leaders said that
the level of protection that the Government provided increased during the
reporting period. Government officials and private citizens often cited the
country's tradition of religious tolerance as one of its strengths.
United Arab Emirates
In August 2003, the Government closed the
Zayed Centre for Coordination and Follow-up, a local think tank that
published and distributed literature, sponsored lectures, and operated a
website. The center published some materials with anti-Jewish themes, and
hosted some speakers who promoted anti-Jewish views. The Government stated
that it closed the center because its activities "starkly contradicted the
principles of interfaith tolerance" advocated by the president.
Yemen
In June, the Government issued a press
release accusing Jews in northern Yemen of backing a rebellion in Sa'da;
however, the Government shortly thereafter retracted the statement. The
media was prone to conspiracy stories involving Jews and Israel. After the
ruling party tried to put forward a Jewish candidate, the General Election
Committee adopted a policy barring all non-Muslims from running for
Parliament.
Anti-Semitism in the Western Hemisphere
Overall, anti-Semitism was not a widespread
problem in the Western Hemisphere. Countries such as Brazil, Uruguay,
Colombia, and Bolivia reported isolated acts of anti-Semitic graffiti and
anti-Semitic material on Internet sites, mostly by small neo-Nazi and
skinhead organizations. Authorities in these countries investigated
anti-Semitic incidents and prosecuted responsible parties.
Anti-Semitism remained a problem in
Argentina. The number of reported anti-Semitic incidents has stabilized in
recent years, although there was an increase in documented reports towards
the end of the year. NGOs continued to report vandalism of several Jewish
cemeteries, threats to Jewish institutions, sales of Nazi memorabilia,
graffiti, and display of Nazi symbols. Authorities continued investigations
of anti-Semitic acts and launched public efforts to promote interethnic and
interreligious understanding.
Canada experienced an increasing number of
anti-Semitic incidents in recent years, including a school bombing, physical
violence, and vandalism of synagogues, schools, cemeteries, and private
houses in predominantly Jewish neighborhoods. B'nai B'rith Canada estimated
600 cases of anti-Semitism during the first 8 months of the year.
Argentina
There have been a number of recent
anti-Semitic incidents. Notable incidents during the reporting period
included vandalism of Jewish cemeteries (including the Israeli Cemetery of
Ciudadela on the outskirts of Buenos Aires that was vandalized on several
occasions), numerous anti-Semitic remarks, threats to Jewish institutions,
sales of Nazi memorabilia, and graffiti and display of Nazi symbols
(including a school bus belonging to a Jewish school defaced with Nazi
symbols in November). In 2003, the Delegation of Israeli Argentine
Associations (DAIA) Center for Social Studies reported 177 anti-Semitic
incidents. DAIA had not compiled final figures for the year, but expected to
report a similar number of incidents as 2003. The DAIA noted that
anti-Semitic incidents made up 7 percent of the complaints received by the
National Institute Against Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Racism (INADI) in
2003.
A City of Buenos Aires legislator came under
considerable attack following accusations that she made anti-Semitic remarks
to a city employee who she subsequently fired. The city legislature
investigated the case, and the legislator admitted the facts and publicly
apologized, but the legislature was unable to obtain the necessary votes to
sanction officially the legislator. INADI issued its determination that the
city legislator had committed "ethnic-religious discrimination" under the
provisions of the 1988 Federal Anti-discrimination Act and will submit its
finding to the city legislature, which may take up the case again in its
next session.
There were no developments in the
investigations of the January 2002 desecration of a Jewish cemetery in the
Buenos Aires suburb of Berazategui, the April 2001 letter bomb received by
Alberto Merenson, or in other open cases. The Government also reported that
there were no developments in the investigation of the 1992 bombing of the
Israeli Embassy. The investigation into the 1994 bombing of the AMIA
cultural center, which killed 86 people, resulted in the issuance of
international arrest warrants for 12 Iranian officials and a Lebanese
national associated with Hizballah. In September, a 3-judge panel acquitted
22 Argentinean defendants charged in connection with the bombing, but the
Argentine Government has pledged to continue the investigation and efforts
to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Brazil
There were isolated reports of
anti-Semitism, and there were signs of increasing tension between Jewish and
Muslim citizens. Leaders in the Jewish community expressed concern over the
continued appearance of anti-Semitic material on Internet websites compiled
by neo-Nazi and "skinhead" groups. There were no reports of violent
incidents directed at Jews during the reporting period, although there were
reports of anti-Semitic graffiti at synagogues, Jewish cemeteries, and
Jewish community centers in Campinas, Curitiba, and Recife. There also were
reports of harassment, vandalism, and several anonymous bomb threats and
threats of violence via telephone and e-mail during the reporting period. In
September 2003, the Supreme Court upheld a 1996 Rio Grande do Sul state
court conviction for racism of editor Siegfried Ellwanger, who edited and
wrote anti-Semitic books. The lower court's ruling sentenced Ellwanger to a
prison term of 2 years, although this sentence subsequently was converted to
community service.
Canada
According to the League for Human Rights
of B'nai B'rith, the number of anti-Semitic incidents has been steadily
increasing over the last decade, with the number of reports doubling from
2001 to 2003. B'nai B'rith reported that there were 600 incidents of
anti-Semitism during the first 8 months of the year, surpassing the total
reported during 2003.
During the reporting period, there were
several acts of anti-Semitism at schools, including the firebombing of a
Jewish school in Montreal in April and several incidents of hate speech at
Ryerson University in Toronto. In May, authorities arrested three persons in
connection with the firebombing, including two 18-year-old youths, and
charged them with arson and conspiracy. There were also numerous reports of
vandalism at Jewish schools, cemeteries, and synagogues during the reporting
period. In June, vandals toppled more than 20 gravestones in the historic
Beth Israel cemetery in Quebec City, a designated national historic site.
Senior government officials, including the
Prime Minister, have acknowledged that violence directed against the Jewish
community was a growing problem and condemned anti-Semitic acts when they
have occurred.
Mexico
During the reporting period, the
country's Jewish community did not encounter violence, harassment, or
vandalism. There were occasional protests associated with the ongoing
turmoil in the Middle East, but the Government acted quickly to offer
protection. In 2003, both houses of Congress unanimously passed the Federal
Law for Preventing and Eliminating Discrimination. The law's fourth article
explicitly mentions anti-Semitism as a form of discrimination.
Uruguay
In April, anti-Semitic and pro-Nazi
statements were painted in and around Jewish cemeteries. The graffiti was
quickly painted over by authorities, although no arrests were made. In 2002,
a limited outbreak of anti-Semitic graffiti and propaganda received media
attention. Several citizens, including a former minister, were defamed in
the graffiti, and there were reports of harassment by telephone. In
response, the police arrested three juvenile "skinheads" and confiscated
their weapons. The adolescents were indicted and were awaiting trial at
year's end.
Venezuela
Statements by senior government officials
supporting Iraq's Saddam Hussein and Islamic extremist movements raised
tensions and intimidated the country's Jewish community. There were several
reports of anti-Semitic graffiti at synagogues in Caracas and two reported
threatening phone calls made to Jewish community centers. In August,
President Chavez cautioned citizens against following the lead of Jewish
citizens in the effort to overturn his referendum victory. Anti-Semitic
leaflets also were available to the public in an Interior and Justice
Ministry office waiting room.
In November, the Venezuelan Investigative
Police searched the Jewish Day School in Caracas, claiming to have reports
of weapons cached on the school grounds. According to media reports, rumors
of an Israeli connection to the assassination of a Venezuelan federal
prosecutor prompted the search. (The federal judge who issued the search
warrant was also leading the investigation into the prosecutor's death.) The
police found nothing, but their 3-hour search disrupted the school day and
alarmed parents. Leaders of the Jewish community expressed outrage following
the incident.
Anti-Semitism in East Asia and the Pacific
Anti-Semitism was not a widespread problem in
East Asian Pacific countries, where Jewish communities were small. There
were overt anti-Semitic incidents in Australia and New Zealand where the
communities were somewhat larger.
Australia
The Federal Parliament and most state and
territory legislatures passed motions condemning racism against the Jewish
community following publication of an Executive Council of Australian Jewry
report that noted a continuing, significant level of anti-Semitic attacks.
There was a small decrease in anti-Semitic incidents in Australia this year
compared to 2003, in contrast to the gradual increase seen in recent years.
On January 5, anti-Semitic slogans were burned into the lawns of the
Parliament House in the state of Tasmania. Between February and July,
several Asian businesses and a synagogue in Western Australia's capital city
of Perth were firebombed or sprayed with racist graffiti. In August, a Perth
court convicted three men, two of whom were associated with the Australian
Nationalist Movement, a Neo-Nazi group, for their roles in the attacks. The
ANM members were sentenced to jail for periods of 7 and 10 months.
New Zealand
In August and September, headstones of
Jewish graves were smashed or desecrated in two cemeteries in and around
Wellington and Wanganui, and a Jewish prayer house was burned in the
Wellington area. The Government condemned these actions, and an
investigation was ongoing at year's end. The heads of the city's Muslim and
Jewish communities said that they believed anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim
attacks there were the work of someone outside their communities who wished
to incite racial tension between them. The Human Rights Commission, which is
Government funded, actively promoted tolerance and anti-bias on the issue.
Malaysia
In an October 2003 speech to the summit
of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in the country, then-Prime
Minister Mahathir Mohamad said that, "Jews ruled this world by proxy." Prime
Minister Abdullah Badawi, who succeeded Mahathir 2 weeks after the speech,
subsequently emphasized religious tolerance towards all faiths. During the
period, the Government promoted Islam "Hadhari", which emphasized tolerance
towards other religions and a moderate, progressive interpretation of Islam.
Anti-Semitism in South Asia
Anti-Semitism is not an issue of any
significance in India, nor in the smaller South Asian countries,
specifically Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, and
Bhutan.
Pakistan
Although there are very few Jewish
citizens in the country, anti-Semitic press articles are common in the
vernacular press. NGO sources point out that since India's 1992
establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel, the Pakistani media, both
mainstream and Islamic, sometimes refers to India as the "Zionist threat on
our borders." Nonetheless, the attitude of the media is not reflected in the
actions of the Government. The Government cooperated in the capture of those
responsible for the 2002 abduction and killing of Wall Street Journal
Correspondent Daniel Pearl.
Anti-Semitism in Africa
With the exception of the occasional report
of an anti-Semitic article appearing in newspapers, anti-Semitism in general
was not a problem throughout sub-Saharan Africa. There are very small Jewish
populations in most African countries, and embassy reports overwhelmingly
indicate that they do not face problems. The vast majority of governments
generally respect religious freedom.
South Africa
South Africa has largest populations of
Jews on the continent with an estimated 80,000. While there were occasional
reports of desecration and vandalism or verbal or written harassment, no
violent incidents were noted during the reporting period. |
