Security fund for religious minorities doubled for 2024

How safe are religious minority groups in Switzerland? This is a question that has been of particular concern since an Orthodox Jewish man was attacked in Zurich at the beginning of March. The government annually provides financial support for the security of religious minorities, and at the end of 2023, contributions for this year were suddenly doubled to CHF5 million ($5.7 million), money that has now been distributed to organisations, the Federal Office of Police Fedpol confirmed. Jonathan Kreutner, secretary general of the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities (SIG), said this money was urgently needed: “Without this increase, Jewish organisations probably would have collapsed under the strain, and that would have been devastating in view of the security situation as it is today. So, a measure that is essential for the protection of the Jewish community has really been approved in the nick of time.” Jewish organisations in particular benefit from the funds: 32 of the 34 ...