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(JTA) – The Ukrainian parliament has passed a law stating that “anti-Semitism and its manifestations are prohibited†in this country.
The law, which was passed Wednesday thanks to a majority of 283 lawmakers out of 450, has the distinction of also prohibiting anti-Semitic sentiments. Most countries with anti-Semitic laws, such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands, criminalize various expressions of anti-Semitic hatred but not the condition of harboring it.
The Law on Preventing and Combating Anti-Semitism in Ukraine defines anti-Semitism as “a certain perception of Jews, expressed as hatred of Jews”. He lists examples of this, including Holocaust denial and “calling for, covering up or justifying the murder or harm of people of Jewish descent.”
The law does not mention Israeli rhetoric, but Ukraine is a co-signer of the IHRA’s definition of anti-Semitism, which defines some anti-Israel rhetoric as anti-Semitic. The bill also fails to address the growing phenomenon in Ukraine of glorifying Nazi collaborators as national heroes. And it does not provide for penalties for those found guilty of breaking the law.
Six lawmakers voted against, 40 abstained and 33 were not present in the vote, according to the website of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament. President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is Jewish and was elected in 2019, must sign the law for it to come into force.
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