Online antisemitism in Switzerland spiked in 2025, as real-world incidents decline 20%

Real-world antisemitic incidents in Switzerland fell by nearly 20% in 2025. Still, online hate speech surged by more than a third as the Middle East conflict continued to fuel tensions, according to a new report by an umbrella organization of the country’s Jews.

The annual report by the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities (SIG) and the GRA Foundation Against Racism and Antisemitism records 177 real-world incidents across Switzerland, a decrease from 221 incidents in 2024. However, the frequency of physical and verbal harassment remains three times higher than levels recorded before Hamas launched its war against Israel on October 7, 2023.

While physical acts dipped, digital antisemitism spiked 37% to 2,185 cases, the survey shows. Researchers identified Telegram as the primary platform for this surge, accounting for 1,445 incidents. Conspiracy theories represented 42% of online hate, often utilizing code words like “Khazars” to delegitimize Jewish history and Israel’s right to exist.

The report highlights a “constant strain” on the Jewish community over the last two years. Many Swiss Jews have begun avoiding religious symbols in public or staying away from certain social spaces to avoid hostility, it notes.

SIG President Ralph Friedländer and GRA President Zsolt Balkanyi-Guery warn that the normalization of antisemitism poses a threat to the country’s democratic foundations, and call on the Swiss government to finalize an action plan for its National Strategy Against Racism and Antisemitism to combat the rising trend.

“It is up to civil society to take a firm stand against such a development,” the report says.