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Monday, March 15, 2021

Sweden: More on the Problem of Anti-Semitism in Malmö Schools

Translation by Fousesquawk


Rosengård area of Malmö


Last month, we translated an article from Nyheter Idag, a conservative Swedish news outlet, on the problem of anti-Semitic bullying of Jewish pupils in Malmö schools. Malmö is Sweden's 3rd largest city and has the largest concentration of Muslim immigrants in the country, largely concentrated in the area of Rosengård. As a result, the city is plagued by crime, bombings, sexual assaults, and Islamic extremism. In addition, the city's once-thriving Jewish community is leaving in droves due to the harassment from some in the city's Muslim population and the city's apparent refusal to do much about it.

Today, we are translating an article about the problem by one of Sweden's mainstream outlets, Expressen. It is written by three Jewish leaders. While I don't have a problem with what they say, I think it should be noted that while the previous article openly pointed the finger at Arab pupils as the main bullies in school, this article does not. The closest it comes is in mentioning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a cause for the bullying.

Hopefully, Malmö is paying more attention to the problem, and I applaud the attention of the media to this issue. Things have to be better than they were under the previous mayor, Ilmar Reepalu, who was openly hostile to the city's Jewish community because of their perceived support for Israel. He is, fortunately, gone now. 

As the writers state below, anti-Semitism cuts across all social strata-at least it has historically. Yes, there are elements among the general population who are anti-Semitic, but it does not help to shy away from naming the main instigators of today's anti-Semitism. In Malmö, and many other places, that is the Muslim population-not all, certainly, but it is a problem that has to be recognized. In addition to the Israeli-Palestinian issue, anti-Semitism has always been a central ingredient of Islam. Not all Muslims choose to follow that teaching, but far too many do follow it. After all, it is right there in the Koran. It is no mystery as to why the city's Jews are facing such hostility. It is one thing to state the problem. To bring change, you have to name the perpetrators-all of them, no matter who they are.

The below article is translated by Fousesquawk.

 https://www.expressen.se/debatt/malmos-judiska-elever-ar-inte-langre-sakra/

Malmö's Jewish pupils no longer safe

Malmö: Posted 15 March 2021 06:00

The situation for Jewish schoolchildren in Malmö is very worrisome. In a new report, there is an emphasis on the Middle East conflict, coupled with clear anti-Semitic expression.

Every Jewish pupil interviewed says that Jews stay away from certain Malmö schools because they don't feel safe there, write Aron Verständig, Petra Kahn Nord, and Nina Tojzner.

"Stingy Jew! I'm going to gas you!" That is what Jewish pupils hear in Malmö schools. Other pupils "Heil" at them without anyone-neither teachers or children saying anything.

A new report from the city of Malmö, "Schoolyard racism, conspiracy theories, and exclusion-a report on anti-Semitism and the Jewish minority in Malmö's pre-schools, schools, high schools, and adult education (2020)", shows a very troubling development and describes an insecure and anxious existence for Jewish pupils in Malmö's schools.

Connection to Middle East

Report author Mirjam Katzin, Malmö's city coordinator against anti-Semitism, describes that in principle, all Jewish pupils interviewed have been in a verbal or physical attack of some kind. In the report, there is an emphasis on the Middle East conflict, coupled with clear anti-Semitic expression.

Anti-Semitism in Swedish society is increasing and disguising itself as politics, criticism of religion, or conspiracy theories. That poses a danger for Jews but also for society at large. With anti-Semitism also comes other prejudices, intolerance, and non-democratic ideologies.

Teachers or school administrators have chosen not to confront anti-Semitic epithets and bullying, instead urging the vulnerable pupils to "tone down" their Jewish identity.

The emphasis on anti-Semitism in connection with the Middle East conflict shows how important IHRA's working definition and its 11 examples, adopted by Sweden's government in 2020, is in order to be able to identify and counter all forms of anti-Semitism. IHRA is especially important to be able to differentiate between legitimate criticism of Israel's government from anti-Semitism directed at Sweden's Jews.

Avoiding certain schools

Jewish pupils encounter more or less open anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, both in the school environment, in free time, and social media. Every Jewish pupil interviewed says that Jews stay away from certain schools in Malmö because they do not feel safe there.

The Crime Prevention Council's (BRÅ) study shows that anti-Semitic hate crime occurs in many different types of environments and contexts. It is stated that "anti-Semitism occurs in large strata of society and cuts across different religions, secular groups, political positions, and ideologies". Several persons interviewed express an inability or unwillingness among teachers and school administrators to "take hold of" anti-Semitic expressions because teachers or school administrators choose not to confront pupils who expose others to anti-Semitic epithets and bullying, instead urging vulnerable pupils to "tone down" their Jewish identity.

Teachers think the question is uncomfortable

In the report from Malmö's schools, teachers say that they lack knowledge and tools to counter anti-Semitism in the schools. They want more knowledge on conspiracy theories and the Israel-Palestinian conflict and believe that anti-Semitic expressions are sometimes ignored because it is too uncomfortable to take up.

Investigate all schools in Sweden


Sweden is hosting the Malmö International Forum for Remembrance of the Holocaust and Fight against anti-Semitism, 13-14 October 2021. In connection with this, we think Sweden should:

- Do a  similar investigation of schools in every Swedish municipality to chart the prevalence of anti-Semitism and its expression. IHRA's working definition should be a starting point.

-Based on knowledge bases, create an action plan to identity and counter anti-Semitism at an early stage.

1. Teachers and school personnel should be trained and given the tools to be able to identify and counter anti-Semitism. The Swedish Committee Against Anti-Semitism (SKMA) and the Forum for Living History should be engaged and given strengthen assignments in designing this training.

2 Teaching materials should be reviewed. The Jewish Central Bureau and the Jewish Museum should be engaged in this work.

 Anti-Semitism is a societal problem, and the work against anti-Semitism in schools needs to, according to Katzin's report, be "conducted in an integrated and far-sighted manner, not broken up and occasional in form, for example, theme days." IHRA's working definition of anti-Semitism with its 11 examples should constitute the base for this work. 


By 

Av Aron Verständig

Jewish Central Bureau

Petra Kahn Nord

World Jewish congress

Nina Tojzner

Jewish Youth Association in Sweden 




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