The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) has called on Athens Mayor Haris Doukas to take urgent action against what it describes as a growing and deeply troubling atmosphere of public antisemitism in the Greek capital.
The appeal, in the form of a letter, follows a visit to Athens by CAM CEO Sacha Roytman Dratwa, who reported encountering widespread antisemitic graffiti and hostile imagery throughout the city.
“Within minutes of walking through your city, we were confronted with a disturbing reality,” Roytman Dratwa wrote in a formal letter to the mayor. “Walls covered in slogans such as ‘smash Zionism,’ Israeli flags defaced with swastikas, and repeated markings used not as calls for peace, but as vehicles for hostility and intimidation. It was everywhere, impossible to ignore.”
Roytman Dratwa stressed that these were not isolated incidents, but part of a broader and more dangerous trend. “These are not harmless expressions; they form a pattern that creates an atmosphere where antisemitism feels visible, tolerated, and normalized,” he warned.
CAM also highlighted additional concerns observed during the visit, including a public demonstration in Athens where participants displayed a banner praising the so-called “Axis of Resistance,” featuring imagery linked to Iranian-backed groups including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
The organization emphasized that confronting antisemitism, particularly when it is masked behind political messaging, is a fundamental responsibility of democratic leadership.
“Confronting antisemitism in all its forms is not only a responsibility — it is a test of the values Athens claims to represent,” Roytman Dratwa stated.
CAM’s call comes amid ongoing concerns about rising antisemitic incidents in Athens since October 7, 2023, including vandalism, harassment of tourists, and anti-Israel demonstrations that have increasingly spilled into overt anti-Jewish expression.
The organization urged the Athens municipality to take concrete steps, including the removal of antisemitic graffiti, stronger enforcement measures, and clear public condemnation of all forms of Jew-hatred.
The letter from Roytman Dratwa can be read here