Simon Wiesenthal Center Denounces Swedish Government’s Failure To Act Against Anti-Semitism

November 11, 2017

"You refused to prosecute anti-Semitic threats or hate crimes now we witness 20 hooded terrorists firebomb synagogue- what more will it take for a democracy to finally protect its Jewish Citizens?” says Center official.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a leading international Jewish human rights NGO, denounced authorities in Sweden for their “serial refusal to act against anti-Semitism.” In a statement from Jerusalem, Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Associate Dean who directs its Global Social Action agenda added, “now the world witnesses 20 hooded terrorists firebomb a synagogue in Gothenburg, where Jewish youngsters inside barely escaped injury or death- what more will it take for this democracy to finally deploy the full weight of their law enforcement and judicial powers against anti-Semites and provide full protection for its Jewish citizens?”

Cooper also expressed outrage over a Friday night demonstration in Malmö where, according to media reports, the threatening chants could be heard: “We have announced the intifada from Malmö. We want our freedom back, and we will shoot the Jews.”

“The Simon Wiesenthal Center put Malmö on our Travel Advisory list years ago because local authorities refused to protect the local Rabbi and other Jews subjected to constant threats. Apparently authorities are not moved when the screams of ‘we will shoot the Jews’ echo on the streets of Sweden’s third largest city,” Cooper concluded. Similar threats were heard at protests against US President Trump’s announcement recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

For more information, please contact the Center's Communications Department, 310-553-9036. Join the Center on Facebook, www.facebook.com/simonwiesenthalcenter, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent direct to your Twitter feed.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).