Racist incidents reach record high
A government advisory committee says there were 49 racist incidents in 2006 – a new record for Switzerland.
In a report the Federal Commission against Racism said there had been 355 reported cases of racism since 1995, when legislation came into force requiring the government to keep track of attacks. In all, half have been prosecuted.
Jews were the most disproportionately targeted ethnic group, and the subject of roughly one quarter of all incidents during the period 1995-2006.
In one-third of the cases victims were non-white, and in one quarter, race was not recorded.
Of the 28 racism-related convictions in Switzerland in 2006, 11 were against members of far-right groups.
The Swiss-based Foundation Against Racism and Anti-Semitism believes the real figure to be roughly 300 per cent higher.
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