Shocked by the worsening anti-Semitism in European Union (EU); as the December 10 released survey by Vienna based EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) revealed; Hindus are urging EU to show some maturity and take some strong steps to put an end to it.

Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that it was disheartening to find Jews in EU continued to face “a sustained stream of abuse expressed in different forms”; persistent negative stereotyping; “vandalism, insults, threats, attacks and even murder”; discrimination in education, employment, health, housing; frequent harassment; hate speech; anti-Semitism in classroom, etc.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, indicated that it was sad to know that in EU anti-Semitism was prevalent everywhere—internet, social media, public spaces, media, political life—and it was increasing.

EU should become serious to counter, prevent, combat and eradicate anti-Semitism. Rolling out hollow resolutions/initiatives in Brussels appeared to have proved ineffective.  Some decisive and sustained actions were needed on the ground to tackle this serious problem; Rajan Zed noted.

Zed was of the view that harassment should not be part of daily normal life of any community; and EU Jews, like everybody else, had the right to live free, fearless and happy lives.

What was more baffling that even the religious elite of Europe had not come out strongly against this unacceptable harassment of Jewish community; Rajan Zed wondered; and urged His Holiness Pope Francis to press this issue.Zed pointed out that if Europe “really and wholeheartedly” wanted to counter rising anti-Semitism; a big change of heart, serious motivation, effective implementation, honest feeling of responsibility and firm political commitment were urgently needed to deliver concrete outcomes.

Actions, and not just discussions, were needed. It was simply immoral to let the EU Jewish community continually suffer and face human rights violations. It was moral obligation of Europe to take care of its hard-working, harmonious and peaceful Jewish communities who had made lot of contributions to Europe and European society; Rajan Zed stated.

This reported survey was conducted in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom; which are reportedly the home to over 96% of the EU’s Jewish population. 38% of those surveyed “have considered emigrating because they did not feel safe as Jews”, the FRA findings/opinions revealed.