The flag of Canada, which saw a 77 percent rise in Holocaust denial in 2012. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Anti-Semitic incidents in Canada rose by 3.7 percent in 2012, and Holocaust denial rose 77 percent, an annual audit revealed.

The report released by the League for Human Rights of B’nai B’rith Canada showed that there were 1,345 anti-Semitic incidents in Canada in 2012, up from 1,297 in 2011.

The analysis highlighted several regional anomalies, with the number of anti-Semitic incidents rising by 25 percent in Canada’s three most western provinces. Also, in the Québec province (excluding the city of Montreal), there was a four-fold increase.

“We are particularly concerned about this year’s findings of increased participation in these incidents by perpetrators self-identifying as Muslims who are apparently supportive of Islamist ideologies of hate and violence,” Frank Dimant, the CEO of B’nai B’rith Canada, said. “But we are encouraged by the many Muslims with whom we work closely, who are prepared to expose anti-Semitism in their community.”

Dimant said the audit showed an overall decrease in vandalism and violence, but a 10.6 percent increase in harassment incidents.

“Jews were targeted in their homes and at their workplaces, on their way to synagogue or returning from school,” Dimant said. “The language has moved from ‘F**k the Jews’ to ‘Kill the Jews,’ with Holocaust denial cases soaring by 77 percent and threats becoming more ugly, explicit and open.”