The Italian news agency Adnkronos International (AKI) runs an interesting piece on the rise of Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and anti-gay attitudes in Europe. The article is correct, I believe, in grouping these forms of behavior as they all point to an increased fear of ‘the other’, those who behave or look different from the majority.

I can’t say, though, that I’m in favor of the legal proposals being offered to address the problem. ‘Hate crime’ is a troubling concept. It seeks to penalize thoughts that may lie behind particular behavior. If there is not freedom of thought—even odious thought—then the very foundation of ‘freedom’ is being challenged. I think it better to severely punish the behavior, criminal in itself, rather than to seek to enhance punishment based on what people think.

Europe: Islamophobia and anti-Semitism on the rise

Rome, 20 August(AKI) – Responding to a survey suggesting hate crimes against Muslims and Jews in Europe are on the rise, amidst the indifference of authorities, a leading representative of Italy’s Jewish community has agreed with the findings, but said that state-sponsored dialogue between Jews and Muslims in Italy has helped to contain the problem there.

“The anti-Semitism that affects the Jewish community today is different than the one before World War II; it is not religious anti-Judaism of a racist nature but more often we experience aggression from Islamic communities in Germany, France and Belgium”, Riccardo Pacifici, deputy president of Rome’s Jewish community said in a newspaper interview published Monday.

“Italy is a country where there is more dialogue; in Milan, but above all in Rome, thanks to the efforts of those who govern”, Pacifici was quoted as saying by Rome-based daily Il Messaggero.

Still, he admitted that most contacts – championed, he said, by Rome mayor Walter Veltroni, and by the Italian capital’s chief rabbi, Riccardo Di Segni who in March 2006 visited Rome’s main mosque, Europe’s largest – occur at a leadership level.

“We can’t say that this dialogue exists amongst ordinary citizens… and it must be said that [the dialogue at leadership level] takes place because of the fear and suspicion that exist in our community”, Pacifici said.

He was commenting on the the 2007 Hate Crimes Survey by US-based watchdog, Human Rights First, which showed increasing intolerance towards the Jews, Muslims and homosexuals in Europe.
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