I recently came across an article about a rare document shedding new light on the Damascus Blood Libel of 1840. It struck me how relevant this history remains today as fake news is not a modern invention. Long before the internet made misinformation instantaneous, societies grappled with the devastating power of lies. The Damascus Blood Libel is a grim example — an antisemitic hoax that led to arrests, torture, and deaths.
The newly uncovered document at the Alliance Museum — a virtual museum dedicated to preserving the heritage of Jewish communities connected to the Alliance Israélite Universelle — offers fresh insight into this infamous case. But more than that, it serves as a stark reminder: unchecked falsehoods about Jews have always had dangerous, real-world consequences.
The Damascus Blood Libel: A Blueprint for Modern Disinformation
In February 1840, a French Capuchin friar, Father Thomas, disappeared in Damascus. Soon after, rumors spread that Jews had murdered him for ritual purposes — a horrific accusation rooted in the blood libel, a medieval conspiracy theory claiming that Jews killed Christians to use their blood in religious ceremonies. Despite the absurdity of the charge, local Jewish leaders were arrested, brutally tortured, and forced to give false confessions. Some died from the abuse, while others were imprisoned for months.
The spread of this lie was not random. It was actively pushed by those in power — including the French consul in Damascus — who used it to incite antisemitic violence and gain political influence. The libel gained traction across the Ottoman Empire and Europe, fueling riots and strengthening anti-Jewish sentiment.
Although the Jewish community, with support from European leaders such as Sir Moses Montefiore and Adolphe Crémieux, eventually secured the prisoners’ release, the damage was done. The accusations never fully disappeared, and similar blood libels would surface again, leading to more violence against Jews in the decades to come.
A New Era of Disinformation
The Damascus Blood Libel was a slow-burning conspiracy, spreading through word of mouth, diplomatic channels, and printed pamphlets. Today, social media accelerates this process dramatically. Lies that once took months to spread can now go viral in minutes.
Algorithms — designed to maximize engagement, not accuracy — reward sensational content, making social media the most powerful tool for spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories since the invention of the printing press.
Just like in 1840, modern disinformation campaigns rely on repetition and emotional manipulation.
The same blood libel tropes have resurfaced in digital spaces:
- Accusations of Jewish control – Claims that Jews secretly manipulate governments, banks, and the media.
- Revived blood libel tropes – Myths that falsely accuse Jews of harming non-Jews for sinister purposes.
- Distorted history – Efforts to rewrite events like the Holocaust, downplaying or outright denying Jewish suffering.
Fighting Back Against Digital Hate
At Fighting Online Antisemitism, we see the dangers of online misinformation firsthand. Fake news about Jews — whether in the form of manipulated images, AI-generated deepfakes, or recycled blood libel accusations —poses a serious threat. Social media platforms must take responsibility for curbing this digital hate, but it’s up to all of us to push back.
That’s why FOA works tirelessly to monitor, report, and remove antisemitic content before it can spread unchecked. We engage directly with social media companies to enforce their policies, educate the public on misinformation tactics, and provide the tools to identify and combat digital hate speech.
The newly uncovered document at the Alliance Museum is more than just a historical artifact. It’s a warning. The Damascus Blood Libel teaches us what happens when antisemitic lies are allowed to flourish. History shows us that when these falsehoods go unchallenged, the consequences can be deadly.
While the tools of misinformation have changed—tweets instead of whispers, viral posts instead of pamphlets — the outcome remains the same: lies harm lives. If we understand how false accusations have fueled persecution in the past, we can be more vigilant in stopping them today.