Increasing hate crime: The situation in Austria is so alarming!

Increasing hate crime: The situation in Austria is so alarming!

In 2024, Austria experienced an alarming increase in prejudice motivated crimes, also known as HATE Crimes. A total of 6,786 such offenses were registered, which corresponds to an increase of around 20% compared to the 5,668 cases of the previous year. This reports oe24 . Nevertheless, the clarification rate remains constant about 67%, which indicates the efficiency of the investigation.

worldview was the most common motif, with 3,935 registered cases, which corresponds to an increase of 45%. After the year 2023 already showed a decline in the prejudiced crimes displayed to 5,668, a variety of motifs and a variety of suspects were still recorded. Fortunately, the general educational rate remains 68.7%, which is almost identical to the previous year, according to the ots .

variety of prejudice motifs

The data collected show that a total of 7,614 prejudice motifs are documented. The second most common motive was the national or ethnic origin, which was reported in 1,581 cases, followed by religious motifs in 763, skin color in 417 and sexual orientation with 317, which represents a significant decline of 29% compared to 2023. The suspects also showed a demographic diversity, because 86% of the suspects were men, while a high proportion (26%) of foreign citizens, especially in the area of HATE crimes.

A quarter of all hate crimes took place on the Internet, with three quarters of these offenses being violations of the prohibition law. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner urges the online hate crimes and warns of the possible escalation of agitation in real violence.

consequences and prevention measures

The psychological and social consequences of hate crime are far -reaching. Affected people often report fear, shame and a loss of self -confidence. These crimes are directed not only against individuals, but also against the entire group, which leads to a general feeling of uncertainty in society, according to the analysis at Situation and the need for targeted measures.

The increase and the dimension of the HATE crime in Austria illustrate the challenges that can still be mastered in order to promote tolerant and respectful society.