Germany to tighten law on anti-Semitic crimes

Germany is planning to tighten legislation on anti-Semitic crimes, a minister says, following a deadly attack aimed at a synagogue in Halle in former east Germany last month.

Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht tells parliament that anti-Semitism will be made an aggravating factor for hate crimes in the criminal code.

The current law mentions discrimination against particular groups as an aggravating factor but does not refer to anti-Semitism specifically.

“I am ashamed that Jews in Germany no longer feel safe and that so many are even thinking of leaving the country,” Lambrecht tells parliament.

“We have to send a clear signal against anti-Semitism.”

Josef Schuster, head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, says the change is “an important step towards a consistent punishment of anti-Semitic crimes.”

The change is part of a package of government measures announced since the Halle attack, including obliging social media networks to report online death threats and incitement of racial hatred to police.

In the Halle attack, a gunman opened fire on a kebab shop after earlier trying and failing to storm a synagogue. He killed a 20-year-old customer in the shop and a female passer-by before being arrested.

Anti-Semitic offences rose by almost 10 percent in Germany last year, with violent attacks going up more than 60 %, according to preliminary police data released in February.

— AFP