The City of Malmö is working long-term to create change and increase the safety of Jewish residents in Malmö

Antisemitism occurs around the world, including in Malmö. The City of Malmö takes all expressions of hatred and threats seriously and is working long-term and systematically to create change and increase safety for Jewish citizens in Malmö. Other cities have followed Malmö's initiative.

The City of Malmö knows that antisemitism exists and that it is a pressing issue. The City of Malmö is working on many fronts to prevent antisemitism. The municipality and the Jewish Community of Malmö (JFM) are working closely together, having signed an agreement to improve the lives of Jews in Malmö. This involves both physical security and the prevention of discrimination by changing attitudes and spreading democratic values. It involves initiatives such as an education center in the synagogue that receives visits from school classes and other organizations where Jewish traditions are made visible.The rights of Jewish Malmö residents as a national minority, the minority legislation, helps us create structures for participation and influence.National surveys show that Malmö does not have a greater problem with antisemitism than the rest of Sweden. Antisemitic attitudes exist in different population groups - including the majority population - in groups with different religious affiliations or none, and within different political opinions. The work against antisemitism, racism and discrimination is a priority for the City of Malmö's organization. We work with educational initiatives and with spreading democratic values. We also run Open Malmö, an umbrella term for a range of activities aimed at ensuring that everyone in Malmö can be proud of their background and identity - and live in the city as equals.

The City of Malmö has conducted its own studies to understand antisemitism in Malmö in order to do something about it. One study is about antisemitism in schools and the other about antisemitic experiences among adults. Both show that it is all too common that Jewish Malmö residents do not feel safe to move freely and openly everywhere in the city.

Malmö has no more problems than other Swedish cities

Since 2020, the City of Malmö has been the only municipality in Sweden to have dedicated coordinators for the prevention of antisemitism in Malmö's schools. Among other things, they produce educational material and discussion material. They visit schools and other municipal organizations to support teachers and Malmö City employees in raising difficult questions and discussions on the subject. The City of Malmö also runs initiatives in the city's schools such as study trips to Holocaust memorial sites and trainings in what antisemitism is and how it can be countered. Other cities have followed Malmö's lead and similar work is also being done at government level.