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‘Direct links’ between rise in Jew-hate and coronavirus spread, says German antisemitism commissioner

Felix Klein described Jew-hate as a virus of its own, ‘contagious on a social level’

April 8, 2020 08:15
Candles are lit outside the synagogue in Halle, that was attacked by a far-right gunman

By

Aleks Phillips

1 min read

Germany’s antisemitism commissioner has warned of a spike in antisemitism in the country due to the spread of coronavirus.

Speaking at the launch of a government research project into the issue, Felix Klein said that there were “direct links between the current spread of the coronavirus and that of antisemitism”.

“There is a boom in conspiracy theories in times of crisis,” he said, describing antisemitism as a virus of its own that is "contagious on a social level".

One example he pointed to, according to AFP, were claims circulating online that the pandemic was the result of a failed bioweapon test by Mossad.

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