Jewish Group Blasts Sweden for Anti-Semitism; Community Imposed "Jewish Tax" to Protect It

The Swedish Wire website reports today (March 20, 2011) that the US-based Jewish rights group -- the Simon Wiesenthal Center -- on March 15 criticized Sweden for not doing enough to protect the Jewish community in Malmo, following a string of crimes against Jews in the southern Swedish town.

The Center blasted Swedish authorities for making the community pay the equivalent of a "Jewish tax," since they themselves had to foot the bill for most security measures.

"It is long overdue that the Swedish authorities assume the costs of the security of the Jewish institutions, especially in a community of 800 people that's been suffering from incidents," Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the Center's associate dean said.

"That's a disaster waiting to happen," Rabbi Cooper cautioned.