HRK President on the RIAS study: Don't let up in the fight against anti-Semitism

The Federal Association of Research and Information Centers on Anti-Semitism (RIAS) today presented the annual report "Anti-Semitic Incidents in Germany 2024".
The President of the German Rectors' Conference (HRK), Prof. Dr. Walter Rosenthal, comments:
"The RIAS report provides depressing evidence that anti-Semitism remains widespread in Germany and that a decisive counteraction remains a task for society as a whole. The significant increase in antisemitic incidents at universities in 2024 also shows that we must not let up in our efforts to combat all forms of antisemitism and to prevent it.
Behind the figures published by RIAS are personal attacks, threats and insults that place a heavy burden on those affected. When they withdraw from universities, when they hide their Jewish identity in public out of fear, this violates the fundamental values of our universities and our democratic society. We must all oppose this without ifs and buts.
In the past year, we have seen that posters, graffiti and stickers with anti-Semitic content were frequently seen and anti-Semitic chants were heard, particularly at Israel-related protests. Universities became the stage for such actions because they have a special visibility as places of academic education and research. The activists aim to aggressively dominate universities as public spaces and normalize anti-Semitism.
Universities will continue to take decisive action against all forms of anti-Semitism. They will do everything in their power to ensure that Jews can feel safe at our universities. Due to their social function, universities have a special responsibility here, even if a relevant proportion of incidents obviously originate from people who are not university members.
Through research on anti-Semitism, Jewish life and the Middle East conflict, through education that is critical of anti-Semitism and through exchange programs with Israel for students and researchers, universities empower their members and society as a whole to take a stand against anti-Semitism in everyday life and at university.
Increasingly, universities have also appointed anti-Semitism officers who advise those affected and organize preventative measures. The HRK supports this with the 'Competence Network for the Prevention of Anti-Semitism at Universities', which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR)."