The World Jewish Congress and the Jewish community of Slovakia were concerned to learn that 22 gravestones a Jewish cemetery in the country’s northern town of Rajec had been damaged by unknown vandals, a week after 60 gravestones in the town of Namestovo were found damaged in a similar manner.
The vandalism in Rajec appears to have occurred in mid-December and is currently under investigation by police; it is not yet clear whether there is a connection between the two incidents.
Antisemitic incidents of this nature are extremely rare in Slovakia. The WJC continues to extend its gratitude to the police for treating these incidents with the severity they deserve and hopes that the perpetrators will be found and prosecuted appropriately.
The WJC also underscores the need for all authorities in Slovakia, and across Europe, to make it clear that such expressions of disrespect and hatred will not be tolerated.