blood libel

noun

1. the false accusation that Jews murder Christian children to use their blood in religious rituals.

   blood libels that spread throughout Europe in the Middle Ages.

Word History and Origins

Origin of blood libel¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

Israel has accused the case of having antisemitic motivations, calling it a "blood libel", in reference to historic allegations that Jewish communities ritually murder Christian children.

From BBC

False allegations of child abuse date back to the blood libel of the Middle Ages and the assertion that Jews tortured and murdered Christian children as part of their ceremonial worship.

From Los Angeles Times

The blood libel is a notorious antisemitic trope that goes back to medieval Europe, falsely accusing Jews of killing Christians, especially children, to use their blood in religious rituals.

From BBC

"It's not humanitarian work, it's blood libel," the ministry said at the time.

From BBC

Israel, which was founded in the aftermath of the Holocaust, has adamantly rejected genocide allegations against it as an antisemitic ‘blood libel.’

From Los Angeles Times