Armed guards outside a French synagogue. (Photo/JTA-Kenzo Tribouillard-AFP-Getty Images) News World 22 percent of hate crimes in Europe in 2019 were against Jews, report shows Facebook Twitter Email SMS WhatsApp Share By Cnaan Liphshiz, JTA | December 1, 2020 Antisemitic incidents accounted for 22 percent of hate crimes recorded last year in the pan-European region, though Jews comprise less than 1 percent of the population there. The data on hate crimes comes from a report about 5,954 incidents recorded in Europe, Russia and Central Asia by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, or ODHIR, of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, or OSCE, ODHIR said in its annual report published last week. The report is based on data transmitted by governments and watchdog groups. Of the total incidents, 1,311 were antisemitic, according to the the report titled “2019 Hate Crime Data.” Antisemitism was the category with the second-largest number of incidents after the 2,371 incidents in the more general Racism and Xenophobia category. Those targeted for their gender or sexual orientation (1,277 cases) made up the third-highest group, followed by Christians (573) and Muslims (507). In one antisemitic incident recorded in the report, a woman had her hair and hat pulled violently from behind while speaking Hebrew on the bus in Berlin, Germany. In another, an Iraqi Muslim man wearing a kippah and carrying several concealed knives was intercepted by guards attempting to enter an Antwerp synagogue in June. The man had used antisemitic insults at Jews before the incident. The report said its figures are not definitive and may in fact be lower than the number of hate crimes committed or recorded in Europe. Cnaan Liphshiz JTA Europe correspondent JTA Content distributed by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency news service. Also On J. U.S. FBI report: Hate crimes up in California and nation in 2019 California State report: Antisemitic hate crimes at highest level in a decade World Germany reports startling 29% increase in antisemitic crimes U.S. FBI reports drop in antisemitic crimes in 2020 Subscribe to our Newsletter Enter Email Sign Up