Wiesenthal Center Warns of a New Proposed Dangerous and Anti-Semitic Law in Venezuela

April 25, 2024

Buenos Aires - The National Assembly of Venezuela received a draft proposal called “Law Against Fascism, Neo-Fascism and Similar Expressions” through which, if approved, any opposition to the regime could be prosecuted.

Vice President Delcy Rodriguez

 

Among other measures, it will officially allow censorship on social media and penalize what it calls “ideological crimes.”

Also, it  proposed the creation of a commission that will decide which international ideologies will be considered within this broad concept of “Similar Expressions.”

This week, activists close to the government have proposed that Zionism has to be considered one of these ideologies, thus legitimizing anti-Semitic persecutions.

Dr. Ariel Gelblung, SWC Director for Latin America warns “Venezuela's once thriving Jewish community was reduced to less than 30% of what it was before Hugo Chávez took office, due to growing hostilities. During the Maduro government, the alliance with Iran and the attacks against Israel deepened. Now, through this dangerous law, the Regime will have the elements to proscribe any manifestation of the Hebrew Community's relationship with the Jewish State, which is normal anywhere in the world. The celebration of Israel's Independence Day, as happens in all Jewish schools and communities, could be interpreted as a crime and would enable the persecution of Jews. Clearly, this raises the alarm that anti-Zionism is the new focus of contemporary anti-Semitism.”

For further information, please contact Dr. Ariel Gelblung at +54 9 11 49695365, join the Center on Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).