Switzerland registered a strong increase in racist and xenophobic incidents in 2024, including assaults against Muslims and Arabs, according to official statistics published on Sunday, April 27.
Last year some 1,211 cases of racial discrimination were reported, including hate speeches, physical aggressions, threats and other discriminatory behaviors related to race or religion, an increase of around 40% compared to the previous year, according to the Federal Commission against Racism (EKR).
Such incidents have constantly increased for several years in this rich alpine country, which has almost nine million inhabitants, of which around 40% are of foreign origin.
However, the increase observed last year was “particularly significant,” said the EKR in a joint press release with theGRAM Switzerland Human Bights.
Increased discrimination against Muslims
Several factors can explain this increase in agreement with them, especially the increase in geopolitical tensions, the growing polarization of public debate, as well as a greater desire to identify cases of discrimination.
Incidents reported most frequently refer to Xenophobic and Anti-Negro discrimination, which represent 65% of all cases.
Discrimination against Muslims and Arabs are those that have increased more compared to 2023 with more than 350 cases in total, the report indicates.
Also informed almost 80 cases of anti-Asian attacks, as well as 66 cases of anti-Semitism.
Most incidents are verbal attacks, but hundreds of physical assaults of a racist nature have also been reported.
More than 400 cases of reported denigrant comments
Haine’s speech incidents are those who know the greatest increase, with 149 reports in 2024.
In addition, more than 400 cases of denigrating comments, almost 300 cases of insults and more than 100 cases of threats have been reported.
According to the report, almost a fifth of the registered reports occurred in an educational context, mainly academic.
Source: BFM TV
