Far-Right Violent Racist Parties Gain Strength in EU - US Advocacy Groups

Right-wing political parties involved in racist violence are becoming stronger throughout the Europe, two US human rights groups said in a report on hate crimes in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The report, jointly issued by Human Rights First and the Anti-Defamation League, also noted that the right wing parties’ involvement in racist violence has not hindered their political rise.

"Openly anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim, racist and homophobic far-right political parties have gained strength in local and national elections, particularly in Greece, Hungary, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Poland, and France," the report, posted on Tuesday, stated.

In some OSCE countries, according to the report, fascist and Islamist extremist groups have driven a rise in anti-Semitic hate crime.

Half of the 57 participating OSCE states either did not report at all or reported zero crimes for their country, the release added.

The rise of parties that espouse hate and an increase in hate crimes underscores the urgent need for OSCE states to make reporting a higher priority, the report said.