Vienna Mayor condemns anti -Semitism: Flag as a sign of coexistence

Vienna Mayor condemns anti -Semitism: Flag as a sign of coexistence

On August 10, 2025, a strong sign of anti -Semitism was set on the campus of religions in the city of Aspern. Mayor Michael Ludwig and representatives of all religious communities raised the flag of the Jewish community together. This gathering took place as a direct reaction to a recent vandalism act, in which on August 20, 2022, three boys tore off a Jewish flag and published it on social media. Ludwig condemned this incident with the words: "An attack on a religious community is an attack on all of us. We condemn any form of anti-Semitism"

a strong sign of unit

The flag was again raised in the presence of Oberrabbi Jaron Engelmayer and Imam Ermin Sehic at the building site of the interreligious meeting place. This underlines Vienna's commitment to cohesion, tolerance and openness, especially in socially turbulent times. Ludwig emphasized that times like this required the interreligious dialogue and mutual understanding. The mayor encouraged the community to join prejudices and hatred explains the city of Vienna .

in Germany the number of anti -Semitic incidents increased to a record high of 1,839. These acts are often motivated on right-wing and often take place online informs the Deutsche Welle . Anti -Semitism representative Felix Klein therefore emphasizes the necessary importance of an interreligious dialogue in order to reduce prejudices and to promote a culture of coexistence.

The way forward

The interreligious dialogue is also intended to help avoid conflicts. For example, Matthias Geist, the superintendent of the Viennese Evangelical Churches, offers to get into conversation with everyone involved in order to clear out misunderstandings and promote living together. An open ear for the concerns of religious communities is the key to preventing repeated violence against the Jewish community.