Holocaust scholar: Respond to anti-semitism – even if you are accused of Islamophobia
At the beginning of February on Holocaust Memorial Day during a lecture at Uppsala University, the American professor and historian Deborah Lipstadt talked about the difficult situation for Jews in Sweden. "This problem must be addressed – despite the risk of being called Islamophobic", she said.
Lipstadt is Professor of Modern Jewish History and Holocaust Studies at Emory University in Georgia, United States.
When asked about the situation for Jews in Sweden by newspaper Världen Idag, she described it as “difficult”.
According to her, it is not only among jihadists that Jewish hatred thrives. There are also problems among non-violent Muslims.
“There are certainly violent jihadists, but many Muslims who would never commit a violent crime, are also convinced that Jews are evil.”
“We find the violent ones and put them in prison, but we must also address these others,” she said.
Lipstadt thinks that the Swedes should put pressure on the authorities and demand that they do not ignore anti-Semitism. However, she understands that there is a fear of being called Islamophobic – a type of criticism that she herself has received.
“But we must call it, whenever we see it,” she says, pointing out that anti-Semitism begins with the Jews, but can then turn into hatred of other ethnic groups.
Source: voiceofeurope.com