{"id":14855,"date":"2021-07-22T13:03:50","date_gmt":"2021-07-22T11:03:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/terraforming.org\/?p=14855"},"modified":"2022-11-24T14:45:41","modified_gmt":"2022-11-24T13:45:41","slug":"antisemitism-in-serbia-then-and-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/en\/antisemitism-in-serbia-then-and-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Antisemitism in Serbia &#8211; then and now"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='av_section_1'  class='avia-section av-kr9gtj-5c26d1340863218a6b6688834ab9b494 main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_section  avia-builder-el-first  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><main  role=\"main\" itemprop=\"mainContentOfPage\"  class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-14855'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-5eoc4o7-836088d0c1b18c33a97842c247b87b6c\">\n.flex_column.av-5eoc4o7-836088d0c1b18c33a97842c247b87b6c{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-5eoc4o7-836088d0c1b18c33a97842c247b87b6c av_one_full  avia-builder-el-1  el_before_av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><div  class='avia-slideshow av-kreq8zzz-daf1426af5a4602199d65496d52366c0 avia-slideshow-featured_large av_slideshow avia-slide-slider  avia-builder-el-2  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  av-slideshow-ui av-control-default av-slideshow-manual av-loop-once av-loop-manual-endless av-default-height-applied avia-slideshow-1' data-slideshow-options=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:false,&quot;loop_autoplay&quot;:&quot;once&quot;,&quot;interval&quot;:5,&quot;loop_manual&quot;:&quot;manual-endless&quot;,&quot;autoplay_stopper&quot;:false,&quot;noNavigation&quot;:false,&quot;bg_slider&quot;:false,&quot;keep_padding&quot;:false,&quot;hoverpause&quot;:false,&quot;show_slide_delay&quot;:0}\"  itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><ul class='avia-slideshow-inner ' style='padding-bottom: 42%;'><li  class='avia-slideshow-slide av-kreq8zzz-daf1426af5a4602199d65496d52366c0__0  av-single-slide slide-1 slide-odd'><div data-rel='slideshow-1' class='avia-slide-wrap '   ><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"wp-image-14863 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-14863\"  src=\"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Untitled-design-4-1500x630.png\" width=\"1500\" height=\"630\" title='Antisemitism in Serbia' alt='Antisemitism in Serbia'  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\"   \/><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-3xfgxev-46c41725adefac06ff83c0df0a422e17\">\n.flex_column.av-3xfgxev-46c41725adefac06ff83c0df0a422e17{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-3xfgxev-46c41725adefac06ff83c0df0a422e17 av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_one_full  el_before_av_one_fourth  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  column-top-margin'     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-3dyw5vr-a94a7cb03715ecb9c15daedf1ad1bf2a '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h1>Antisemitism in Serbia then and now<\/h1>\n<p>Antisemitism can be described as hatred, animosity, or bias against the Jews, just because and only because they are Jews. Antisemitism is a very old phenomenon that was manifested in various ways throughout the centuries. Its most horrible form was the Holocaust.<\/p>\n<p>Antisemitism still exists today, in almost all parts of the world, as well as in Serbia. Although contemporary antisemitism has certain specificities, what characterized it through centuries up until the present day, is that it remains based on prejudices, stereotypes, myths and lies.<\/p>\n<h3>Anti-Jewish myths and lies throughout history<\/h3>\n<p>Regardless of different content and manifestations of antisemitic myths and lies, from religious to racial antisemitism, throughout the history antisemitism has always had a very prosaic and practical background, that stemmed from the interest of certain structures of society to secure the power for themselves, or to turn away the attention of the people from the real social problems, passing the Jews as the \u201cculprits\u201d for all kinds of misfortunes, or to hinder and prevent the Jews from engaging in the economy, thus safeguarding their own monopoly, or the most prosaic of reasons \u2013 to justify the robbery of the Jewish property, as well as their persecutions and murder, or all of it together.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Religious antisemitism<\/strong> is hatred and animosity against the Jews based on religious \u201carguments\u201d. The central point in Christian antisemitism, from early Christianity to modern times, is the accusation of the \u201cbetrayal of Jesus Christ\u201d and \u201cdeicide\u201d. According to the long-dominant theological teaching, all Jews are collectively responsible for Christ\u2019s crucifixion, for eternity. This idea played an important role in the centuries-long persecution and discrimination of Jews in Europe. Another characteristic of religious antisemitism is the emphasis on the \u201cinferiority\u201d of Judaism in relation to Christianity. For a long time, Christian theology described Christianity as spiritual, based on love and forgiveness, while Judaism was presented as \u201cmaterialistic,\u201d with the special emphasis given to the \u201clack of notion of forgiveness\u201d. Christian art accompanied this dogma, so painting, frescoes and sculptures that adorned the outer walls of churches often depicted allegories that assert \u201cfailure\u201d and \u201cinferiority\u201d of Judaism. On the one hand, Jews were demonized and portrayed as freaks, and on the other hand, \u201cerased\u201d and left out of works of art that were supposed to portray biblical motifs, in which, in the Bible itself, the Jews play a role.<\/p>\n<p>The myth that the Jews allegedly \u201c<strong>poisoned the wells<\/strong>\u201d is another in a series of absurd accusations related to Jews. The Jews were accused of allegedly poisoning the wells in order to spread the infection, so they were found guilty of the outbreak of the terrible plague epidemic that decimated Europe in the 14th century. These unfounded accusations led to the massacre of thousands of Jews in various parts of Europe, but the claims that the Jews \u201cspread disease\u201d or other calamities, still exist today in various contemporary forms. A similar fabrication was conceived in Europe in the 12th century, suggesting that the Jews \u201cabduct and kill Christian children, and use their blood in rituals during the celebration of the Jewish holiday of Pesach\u201d. The accusation that Jews carry out \u201critual murders\u201d (blood libel) exists today in various forms, especially among antisemites in the Arab and Islamic world.<\/p>\n<p>One of the typical anti-Jewish prejudices is that the Jews are \u201c<strong>obsessed with gold, money and wealth<\/strong>,\u201d and that they are \u201c<strong>usurers<\/strong>\u201d who mercilessly force their debtors into ruin. This stereotype first appeared back in the Middle Ages. At that time across Europe, the local rulers and the church banned the Jews from engaging in a whole range of professions, as well as possessing or working the land, while on the other hand, encouraging them to engage in trade, banking and money lending (since usury was prohibited for Muslims and Christians for religious reasons). In essence, antisemitism was manifested through the disenfranchisement of Jews (the ban on engaging in certain professions and the possession of land), which gave rise to new antisemitic prejudices about them, that exist to this day<\/p>\n<p>The concept that there was enormous &#8220;<strong>Jewish power<\/strong>&#8221; that posed a &#8220;threat&#8221; was, and still is, a central part of antisemitism. Such prejudices have their roots in the Middle Ages, but they developed especially during the 19th century, after the period of creation of modern nation-states and emancipation through which in some countries, especially in Western Europe, the door was finally opened to Jews to participate as equal citizens. Prejudices about Jewish (omnipotence) also played an important role in Nazi propaganda. Thus, German Jews are presented as the alleged &#8220;powers&#8221; of politics, economics, culture, and the media in Germany and part of &#8220;world Jewry&#8221; (Weltjudentum) which &#8220;controls&#8221; the world economy and &#8220;manages&#8221; all major world powers &#8211; from American capitalism to Soviet Bolshevism.<\/p>\n<h3>The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.holocaustremembrance.com\/resources\/working-definitions-charters\/working-definition-antisemitism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and\/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities. Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Some of the contemporary examples of antisemitism include:<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Making, dissemination or participation in the dissemination of mendacious stereotypical allegations about Jews, with the aim, do dehumanize and demonize the individual Jews or Jewish community, which includes, especially but not exclusively, the myth about Jewish world domination, or of Jews controlling the media, government, banks, etc.<br \/>\n\u2022 Accusing Jews as individuals or people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews;<br \/>\n\u2022 Accusing Jewish fellow citizens of being more loyal to \u201dglobal Jewish community\u201d or to the State of Israel, and giving priority to representing their interests, rather than to the interests of their own countries, whose nationals they are;<br \/>\n\u2022 Denial of Holocaust, as well as distortion of Holocaust history, or historical revisionism of Holocaust, as well as the accusation of the Jewish people and the state of Israel that they invented the Holocaust or exaggerated the number<br \/>\nof its victims;<br \/>\n\u2022 Calling for, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a racist ideology or an extremist view of religion.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-t252hz-5045fa22a89087249bdbbabb7a53a014\">\n.flex_column.av-t252hz-5045fa22a89087249bdbbabb7a53a014{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-t252hz-5045fa22a89087249bdbbabb7a53a014 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  column-top-margin'     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-krerfe96-46d582e5f075bfafed23cfe0fa079bd1\">\n.avia-image-container.av-krerfe96-46d582e5f075bfafed23cfe0fa079bd1 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-krerfe96-46d582e5f075bfafed23cfe0fa079bd1 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-krerfe96-46d582e5f075bfafed23cfe0fa079bd1 av-styling-circle avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-6  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class='wp-image-13773 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-13773 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Gojko-portret.png\" alt='Gojko Keki\u0107' title='Gojko Keki\u0107'  height=\"1500\" width=\"1500\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Gojko-portret.png 1500w, https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Gojko-portret-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Gojko-portret-1030x1030.png 1030w, https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Gojko-portret-80x80.png 80w, https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Gojko-portret-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Gojko-portret-36x36.png 36w, https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Gojko-portret-180x180.png 180w, https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Gojko-portret-705x705.png 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-krerjq8f-ec9d152fef3783d62e72a599eed878c3 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><strong>Gojko Keki\u0107<\/strong> I 22nd July 2021.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/main><!-- close content main element --><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_2'  class='avia-section av-5opjtdz-b9ed9d601c0df568f0c43c1930093a4d main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-14855'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-5hyxodj-89c80ad149abd36017d73ad043f1748a\">\n.flex_column.av-5hyxodj-89c80ad149abd36017d73ad043f1748a{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-5hyxodj-89c80ad149abd36017d73ad043f1748a av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-9  el_before_av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-kres9wjf-c861e69e8ec199ba91ad12679a7b5d6f '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2>Jews and antisemitism in Yugoslavia<\/h2>\n<p>According to data from 1939, the Jewish community, with a total of 71,342 members, made up about half a percent of the total population of the former Yugoslavia. The position of Jews was regulated by the Law on Jewish Religious Community in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, adopted in 1929, which ensured further prosperity and status determination for the Federation and the Jewish community in general.<\/p>\n<p>The Jews lived mostly in large city centers, primarily in Belgrade, Zagreb, Osijek, Sarajevo, Skopje, Bitola. Most of the Jews were engaged in trade, crafts, industry, and free professions, so there were many tradesmen, clerks, and craftsmen, as well as doctors, lawyers, industrial workers, teachers, and clergymen among the Jewish population. The Zionist movement in Yugoslavia was well organized and comprised one-tenth of community members. Of particular importance were the Jewish youth organizations, which provided training for those intending to settle in Palestine.<\/p>\n<p>The manifestations of antisemitism in the Yugoslav state were relatively rare. The notorious anti-Semitic text, \u201cThe Protocols of the Elders of Zion\u201d was first published in Yugoslavia in 1929. Since Hitler\u2019s rise to power, and especially since World War II began in Europe, antisemitism was intensifying in Yugoslavia, culminating in the adoption of the two anti-Jewish laws, in October 1940. With these laws, the Yugoslav government imposed limitations on education for the Jews (\u201cnumerous clausus\u201d), and banned them from wholesale trade in foodstuffs. Antisemitism was a part of the political program of a few fascist political organizations, <strong>Dimitrije Ljoti\u0107<\/strong>\u2019s Zbor and the Usta\u0161as, and was felt in major religious communities as well. Numerous German national minority in Yugoslavia mostly followed the antisemitic ideology and politics of their motherland, the Nazi Germany.<\/p>\n<h3>Jews and antisemitism in Serbia during the World War II<\/h3>\n<p>After the brief April war, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was destroyed and Serbia occupied and partitioned into several occupation zones. Most of Serbia fell under the German occupation, including Banat under the administration of the Volksdeutsche. Other parts of Serbia were occupied by Hungary, Bulgaria, the Independent State of Croatia, and Italy. Although extermination of the Jewish population unfolded differently in the areas under the control of the various occupiers, the outcome was equally terrible: over 80% of Jews in Serbia and Yugoslavia perished in the Holocaust. Immediately after the German troops entered into Serbia, the Jews were registered, marked with a yellow armband and had a compulsory work service introduced. They were thrown out of public service, denied access to public health care, and the confiscation of their property started. These and other discriminatory measures affected Roma as well, and were carried out by the German police, with the support of the Serbian quisling administration of <strong>Milan A\u0107imovi\u0107<\/strong>, and later General <strong>Milan Nedi\u0107<\/strong>. Since the middle of August 1941, the authorities of the German national minority in Banat expelled all the Jews to Belgrade. Despite the grave circumstances, the Jews participated in the uprising and anti-fascist struggle since July 1941. The German army was crushing the revolt by mass shootings of the civilian population, and the camps became their main source of hostages to be shot. The main camps were Banjica in Belgrade, the camp in \u0160abac and the Red Cross camp in Ni\u0161. Since the second half of August 1941, the Jewish men from Banat and Belgrade, and later Romani men from Belgrade, were detained at <a href=\"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/en\/memorial-center-topovske-supe\/\">Topovske \u0161upe<\/a> camp, in Belgrade\u2019s Autokomanda. By the middle of November, practically all Jewish and, to a large extent, Romani men were killed, as well as all Jewish refugees from Central Europe.<\/p>\n<p>This was accompanied by intensive anti-Jewish propaganda that accused the Jews of organizing and leading the uprising. The propaganda department of Milan Nedi\u0107\u2019s collaborationist regime organized an anti-Jewish exhibition entitled <strong>The Grand Anti-Masonic Exhibition<\/strong>, in Belgrade. The exhibition was officially launched on 22 October 1941, and was open to the public until 19 January 1942. <a href=\"https:\/\/ester.rs\/en\/introduction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">From 8 December 1941, all remaining Jews, as well as a number of Roma, women, children, and the elderly, were imprisoned in the Jewish camp Zemun (Judenlager Semlin) at the Belgrade Fair (Sajmi\u0161te)<\/a>. In March 1942, Berlin decided that the Jews in Serbia were to be exterminated, and the gas van was sent to Belgrade. By 10 May, almost all Jews imprisoned at Sajmi\u0161te were killed, and Nazi officers praised one another, saying that Serbia was \u201cthe only country in which the Jewish question and the Gypsy question have been solved\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-4rdmssn-10aa80364c7f1b4a6204093dddb55881\">\n.flex_column.av-4rdmssn-10aa80364c7f1b4a6204093dddb55881{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-4rdmssn-10aa80364c7f1b4a6204093dddb55881 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-11  el_after_av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-4h4drev-ba02d8ac46f2a4a6bad08d7a05472307\">\n.avia-image-container.av-4h4drev-ba02d8ac46f2a4a6bad08d7a05472307 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-4h4drev-ba02d8ac46f2a4a6bad08d7a05472307 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-4h4drev-ba02d8ac46f2a4a6bad08d7a05472307 av-styling- av-img-linked avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-12  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Antimasonski-plakati.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Antimasonski-plakati.jpg 400w, https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Antimasonski-plakati-300x225.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" class='avia_image '  aria-label='Poster from the anti-Masonic exhibition opened in 1941.'><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class='wp-image-14878 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-14878 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Antimasonski-plakati.jpg\" alt='Antimasonski-plakat' title='Poster from the anti-Masonic exhibition opened in 1941.'  height=\"300\" width=\"400\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Antimasonski-plakati.jpg 400w, https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Antimasonski-plakati-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kreszjy6-8478c8c573c27efe76ce8e7bb2d3cc2d\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-kreszjy6-8478c8c573c27efe76ce8e7bb2d3cc2d .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:12px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-kreszjy6-8478c8c573c27efe76ce8e7bb2d3cc2d '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>The Grand Anti-Masonic Exhibition, in Belgrade. The exhibition was officially launched on 22 October 1941 and was open to the public until 19 January 1942.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_3'  class='avia-section av-3vd6147-7ace3e236c53122c4c0274ced512da66 main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-14  el_after_av_section  el_before_av_section  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-14855'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-3mqbm6f-8c189a5fde4eb4e2c5cd025a57de522d\">\n.flex_column.av-3mqbm6f-8c189a5fde4eb4e2c5cd025a57de522d{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-3mqbm6f-8c189a5fde4eb4e2c5cd025a57de522d av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-15  el_before_av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-kresbl55-b8d8baaead4cd2fa10797ccb5d2581f1 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2>Antisemitism in Serbia today<\/h2>\n<p>Although not so common, the appearance of antisemitism in Serbia is also present in the 21st century. Today, antisemitic incidents are most often linked to ultra-right organizations, football fans, and groups whose members are followers of Nazi ideology. These incidents are mainly reflected in antisemitic messages, graffiti, the display of Nazi symbols and the glorification of collaborators of the occupiers who participated in crimes and destroyed Jews in Serbia during the Second World War.<\/p>\n<h3>The \u201cNacionalni Stroj\u201d case<\/h3>\n<p>The \u201cNacionalni stroj\u201d was a neo-Nazi organization in Serbia founded in 2004. That organization used the coat of arms of Serbia as its coat of arms during the German occupation in the Second World War when Serbia was ruled by the Government of General Milan Nedi\u0107. On their website, members of the \u201cNacionalni stroj\u201d pointed out antisemitic messages in the form of lists of Jews who, as they wrote, were responsible for the bombing of Serbia in 1999 by the NATO pact. These lists included, among others, former US Secretary of State <strong>Madeleine Albright<\/strong>, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom <strong>Tony Blair<\/strong> and retired US Army General <strong>Wesley Clark<\/strong>, who commanded the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.<\/p>\n<p>In one of their website posts from 2009, the members of the group wrote:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;<em>Action in Valjevo, Ni\u0161 and Sremska Kamenica on the occasion of January 27. Our activists from Valjevo, Ni\u0161 and Sremska Kamenica, on the night between January 26 and 27, wrote slogans against Jewish propaganda lies. This date is characteristic of Jewish powerful people around the world who have imposed their lies on the people and made one more day of the year dedicated to the so-called Holocaust and the memory of the &#8220;killed&#8221; victims. We Serbs, activists of the \u201cNacionalni stroj\u201d, strongly oppose such historical lies. If anything is celebrated today, it is Saint Sava&#8217;s day, which is celebrated among people and teachers, and we will not allow any fictional stories about the Holocaust to be celebrated in the future instead of that day. The Serbian people have suffered enough and have been tortured by the Jewish hand, which, by spreading its lies, deceives the people who are not instructed in their criminal activities<\/em>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>On October 14, 2008, the Republic Public Prosecutor&#8217;s Office submitted a request to the Constitutional Court of Serbia to ban the \u201cNacionalni stroj\u201d, stating that it was a &#8220;secret political party (organization) whose activities were aimed at inciting racial and national hatred.&#8221; Acting upon this request, the Constitutional Court, at its session held on June 2, 2011, established that the &#8220;Nacionalni stroj&#8221; is a secret association whose form of association is prohibited by the provisions of Article 55 of the Serbian Constitution, and accordingly prohibited the activities of this organization, as well as expanding its program goals.<\/p>\n<p>In 2008, the \u201cNacionalni stroj\u201d leader, <strong>Goran Davidovi\u0107 &#8220;F\u00fchrer&#8221;<\/strong>, was accused of spreading racial and religious and national hatred. Shortly after the indictment was filed, he left Serbia and took refuge in Turin, Italy. After an 11-year long trial, Davidovi\u0107 was sentenced to one year in prison by a decision of the High Court in Novi Sad in 2019, but the Court of Appeals change that decision and release Davidovi\u0107. The reason for the annulment of the first-instance verdict is, as stated in the explanation, that a misdemeanor procedure has already been conducted against Goran Davidovi\u0107 for the same act. According to the law and the Constitution of Serbia, a person cannot be prosecuted twice for a crime for which he was previously acquitted or convicted.<\/p>\n<h3>\u201cKrv i \u010dast\u201d, \u201cCombat 18\u201d, \u201cObraz\u201d<\/h3>\n<p>Another organization that promoted antisemitic attitudes in its program was the organization &#8220;Krv i \u010dast (Blood and Honor)&#8221;, which was founded in Serbia in 1995, and the organization&#8217;s base is in Great Britain. On the website of that organization, which is no longer active it was writen: &#8220;<em>After all the years of repression of the Zionist system against the Serbian National Socialists, the struggle for the survival of our race and nation is being waged on all fronts<\/em>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>From the position of Nazi ideology, performed the organization &#8220;Combat 18&#8221; (number 18 represents the first and eighth letters of the alphabet, that is, the initials of Adolf Hitler), as well as the movement &#8220;Obraz&#8221;, which, among other things, advocated the rehabilitation of collaborationist and antisemite Dimitrije Ljoti\u0107. The organization &#8220;Obraz&#8221; was banned in 2012.<\/p>\n<h3>Football fans<\/h3>\n<p>The glorification of Nazi ideology was also present in the stands of Serbian stadiums. The group that took the lead in highlighting the Nazi symbols are the fans of the football club Rad from Belgrade. At their stands, one could often see a flag with a neo-Nazi &#8220;Celtic cross&#8221;, &#8220;Totenkopf&#8221; (a skull with the emblem of the SS division), as well as flags with the image of Dimitrije Ljoti\u0107.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-al863r-e993224bcb077dfa94123fc14a3fe059\">\n.flex_column.av-al863r-e993224bcb077dfa94123fc14a3fe059{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-al863r-e993224bcb077dfa94123fc14a3fe059 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-17  el_after_av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-2l5t78n-0de5ca2e01113f0177438173fd371a74\">\n.avia-image-container.av-2l5t78n-0de5ca2e01113f0177438173fd371a74 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-2l5t78n-0de5ca2e01113f0177438173fd371a74 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-2l5t78n-0de5ca2e01113f0177438173fd371a74 av-styling- av-img-linked avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-18  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/goran_davidovic_nacionalni-stroj-2.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/goran_davidovic_nacionalni-stroj-2.jpg 500w, https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/goran_davidovic_nacionalni-stroj-2-300x207.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" class='avia_image '  aria-label='Leader of \u201cNacionalni stroj\u201d, Goran Davidovi\u0107 \u201cF\u00fchrer\u201d'><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class='wp-image-14867 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-14867 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/goran_davidovic_nacionalni-stroj-2.jpg\" alt='goran_davidovic_nacionalni-stroj' title='Leader of \u201cNacionalni stroj\u201d, Goran Davidovi\u0107 \u201cF\u00fchrer\u201d'  height=\"345\" width=\"500\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/goran_davidovic_nacionalni-stroj-2.jpg 500w, https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/goran_davidovic_nacionalni-stroj-2-300x207.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kret0u31-7f9bdb68b1cc1393d98b6a06ea3ff3f1\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-kret0u31-7f9bdb68b1cc1393d98b6a06ea3ff3f1 .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:12px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-kret0u31-7f9bdb68b1cc1393d98b6a06ea3ff3f1 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Leader of \u201cNacionalni stroj\u201d, Goran Davidovi\u0107 &#8220;F\u00fchrer&#8221; back in the 2007.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- close content main div --><\/div><\/div><div id='av_section_4'  class='avia-section av-259nmw7-bb4e983895d6599210dffe89beeb208f main_color avia-section-default avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-20  el_after_av_section  avia-builder-el-last  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><div class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-14855'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-6czmpz-bdda156e2552a69f4d7f1794489e9bc4\">\n.flex_column.av-6czmpz-bdda156e2552a69f4d7f1794489e9bc4{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-6czmpz-bdda156e2552a69f4d7f1794489e9bc4 av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-21  el_before_av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-first  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><section  class='av_textblock_section av-krescxwf-c256a275872ac3d2dc295ca6500e8846 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2>Recent antisemitic incidents<\/h2>\n<p>The fact that the 2009 Law in Serbia prohibits the display of neo-Nazi and fascist symbols and symbols and the holding of manifestations of neo-Nazi or fascist organizations, as well as any activities of such organizations, did not prevent certain groups, especially sympathizers of Dimitrije Ljotic and General Milan Nedi\u0107 to gather in public several times. The last such gathering was held in February 2021, when about fifty members of the extreme right-wing organization gathered in front of the church in the center of Novi Sad. They lit candles on the occasion of the anniversary of general Milan Nedi\u0107&#8217;s death. Those gathered wore masks with a &#8220;Celtic cross&#8221; and a crossed sickle and hammer.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, several antisemitic incidents were reported in Novi Sad and Belgrade in 2020 and 2021.<\/p>\n<p>In November 2020, the graffiti &#8220;<strong>Dr<\/strong> <strong>Kon on a stake<\/strong>&#8221; with the crossed-out Star of David appeared in Novi Sad. Predrag Kon is the head of the crisis staff in Serbia for the fight against the coronavirus and a Jew. In the same month, the sticker &#8220;Jew holds all the strings&#8221; was found on the street in Novi Sad. A month later, the graffiti &#8220;<strong>Back to the oven<\/strong>&#8221; appeared in the settlement of Detelinara in Novi Sad. In January 2021, also in Novi Sad, on a billboard with a picture of the Novi Sad Synagogue, antisemitic messages were written in the form of a crossed-out Star of David, the &#8220;Celtic Cross&#8221; and the abbreviation &#8220;SS&#8221; referring to the Nazi military units &#8220;Schutzstaffel&#8221;. The message &#8220;<strong>Judenfrei<\/strong>&#8221; was written on the same billboard a month earlier.<\/p>\n<p>The Association of Jewish Communities of Serbia submitted a report to the Republic Public Prosecutor&#8217;s Office after several posters with antisemitic messages were hung in the street on March 27 in Belgrade, on May 27, 2021.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.state.gov\/reports\/2020-report-on-international-religious-freedom\/serbia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">These incidents were also found in the report of the American State Department on the state of religious freedoms in Serbia, which was published in May 2021<\/a>. There were a total of 30 such and similar incidents in Serbia in the period from 2009 to 2019, according to the report of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, published in September 2020, which was also taken into account by the State Department. Of the 30 antisemitic incidents, only 11 resulted in criminal charges, the State Department reported.<\/p>\n<p>The same report also states that there is an increase in antisemitism in Serbia during the coronavirus pandemic. Officials of the Jewish community in Serbia informed the State Department about the growth of antisemitism on social networks and that antisemitic literature is still available in some bookstores.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Robert Sabados<\/strong>, president of the Association of Jewish Communities in Serbia, told the daily newspaper Danas that he hoped that this trend would decrease with the end of the pandemic and the normalization of life.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The Internet is full of antisemitic statements and these are things that upset everyone, it does not only apply to Jews. If you point a finger at someone, he becomes an enemy. I attribute this to the impact of the pandemic, the fact that we were closed and turned to networks that provide anonymity, where some uncontrolled impulses erupt to the surface. I think that with the opening and normalization of life, that tension and anger will decrease, it will be channeled in other ways &#8211; Sabados stated.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mirko Stefanovi\u0107<\/strong> from the Jewish community of Novi Sad believes that the tools for the fight against antisemitism are in the hands of local authorities.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; If the local authorities prevent the appearance of antisemitism, then there will be fewer such incidents because people will not be motivated to do so. If the local authorities tolerate such incidents, they will be more frequent. These tools on the judicial side exist, it is just a question of how the authorities will treat groups that broadcast antisemitism. Antisemitism has ignorance at its root. There is no antisemitism among knowledgeable people who are educated. There is a readiness in society to accept some untruths and to spread them further as a confirmed truth. This includes antisemitism. I cannot believe that one man can hate another man just because he belongs to another nation. It is amazing to me that &#8220;The Protocols of the Elders of Zion&#8221; can still be bought in some bookstores. For me, it\u2019s a red line. And society must not cross some red lines if it wants to remain a society.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-1ciatwn-5ae2f0d1d58d2adaafc1af0db0def883\">\n.flex_column.av-1ciatwn-5ae2f0d1d58d2adaafc1af0db0def883{\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='flex_column av-1ciatwn-5ae2f0d1d58d2adaafc1af0db0def883 av_one_fourth  avia-builder-el-23  el_after_av_three_fourth  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding  '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-pjqqrr-f90b9d62b8ac430ecd62f25339e91b77\">\n.avia-image-container.av-pjqqrr-f90b9d62b8ac430ecd62f25339e91b77 img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-pjqqrr-f90b9d62b8ac430ecd62f25339e91b77 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-pjqqrr-f90b9d62b8ac430ecd62f25339e91b77 av-styling- av-img-linked avia-align-center  avia-builder-el-24  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/nazad-u-pecnicu-3.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/nazad-u-pecnicu-3.jpg 798w, https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/nazad-u-pecnicu-3-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/nazad-u-pecnicu-3-768x446.jpg 768w, https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/nazad-u-pecnicu-3-705x409.jpg 705w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px\" class='avia_image '  aria-label='Antisemitic graphite'><img decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class='wp-image-14880 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-14880 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/nazad-u-pecnicu-3.jpg\" alt='nazad-u-pe\u0107nicu' title='Antisemitic graphite'  height=\"463\" width=\"798\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/nazad-u-pecnicu-3.jpg 798w, https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/nazad-u-pecnicu-3-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/nazad-u-pecnicu-3-768x446.jpg 768w, https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/nazad-u-pecnicu-3-705x409.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-kret1jxb-b0b1e0f1733d36a899d70f4d710e5e23\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-kret1jxb-b0b1e0f1733d36a899d70f4d710e5e23 .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:12px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-kret1jxb-b0b1e0f1733d36a899d70f4d710e5e23 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>In January 2021, graphite &#8220;Back in the oven&#8221; with the crossed-out Star of David was written in Novi Sad<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Antisemitism can be described as hatred, animosity, or bias against the Jews, just because and only because they are Jews. Antisemitism is a very old phenomenon that was manifested in various ways throughout the centuries. Its most horrible form was the Holocaust. Antisemitism still exists today, in almost all parts of the world, as well as in Serbia. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14863,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5],"tags":[3028,28,3027],"class_list":["post-14855","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-anti-jewish-myths","tag-antisemitism","tag-antisemitism-in-serbia"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Untitled-design-4.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14855","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14855"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14855\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16012,"href":"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14855\/revisions\/16012"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14863"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14855"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14855"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/terraforming.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14855"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}