Stockholm must act against antisemitism

Antisemitism is on the rise in Sweden, a trend confirmed by Jewish organizations, hate crime statistics, and academic studies. The situation has escalated since Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel, the deadliest massacre of Jews since World War II, leaving Jewish individuals in Stockholm feeling increasingly insecure. Schools are also reporting an increase in antisemitic expressions among students.

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Antisemitism is increasing in Sweden, something Jewish organizations, hate crime reports, and studies bear witness to.

The Center Party asserts that antisemitism must be combated regardless of its source, whether from Islamist groups, the far-right, or radical left circles. The party criticizes parts of the left for struggling to draw a clear line against antisemitism and extremism, citing weak responses from the Left Party's leadership to revelations about its representatives spreading terror-romantic antisemitic messages.

To address these concerns, the Center Party proposes four concrete reforms to safeguard Jewish life in Stockholm. First, they advocate for establishing a Jewish knowledge center, similar to one in Malmö, to disseminate information about Jewish history, culture, religion, and antisemitism. This center would host school classes, train public employees, and highlight Jewish life in the capital.

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Our Stockholm should be a place where people can live openly as Jews without fear of threats, harassment, or suspicion.

Second, the party calls for guaranteed security for Jewish institutions, such as synagogues and schools, beyond one-year security grants. They propose that support be decided for at least three-year periods, allowing institutions to plan long-term and reduce constant financial anxiety. Third, they suggest creating a national function to combat antisemitism, modeled after Denmark's AKVAH, to receive reports of antisemitic incidents and support victims. Finally, the Center Party aims to strengthen Jewish students' right to safe schooling by significantly increasing the profile grant for Jewish schools and adapting regulations to allow schools to close on Shabbat and Jewish holidays, and to reschedule national tests that conflict with religious observances.

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Antisemitism must be combated regardless of where it comes from.