Jewish cemetery desecrated in southern Czech town

[oberliner]

Source: Associated Press

PRAGUE, Czech Republic: A Jewish cemetery has been desecrated in a southern Czech town, police said Friday.

Spokeswoman Hana Moltasova said in a statement that 23 tombstones were overturned at the cemetery in Pisek, 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Prague.

Five of the tombstones were broken, she said.

The cemetery, dating back to the 19th century, is no longer used for burials, and opened to public in 1993 after renovations.


Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/07/27/europe/EU-GEN-Czech-Cemetery-Desecrated.php

[JudyM]

1. There's nothing more to read at the link - it's the same as what you posted.

Unless I missed something...?

:shrug:

[oberliner]

3. No that's it

Just included the link to cite the source.

[Scurrilous]

6. More at this link:

Jewish cemetery desecrated in southern Czech town

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3430666,00.html

Dozens of tombstones overturned at Pisek cemetery south of Prague; number of anti-Semitic incidents on rise in past few months

<snip>

"A Jewish cemetery was desecrated in a southern Czech town, police said Friday.

Spokeswoman Hana Moltasova said in a statement that 23 tombstones were overturned at the cemetery in Pisek, 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Prague.

Five of the tombstones were broken, she said. The cemetery, dating back to the 19th century, is no longer used for burials, and opened to public in 1993 after renovations.

Just ten days ago another Jewish cemetery was desecrated near the northeastern Czech town of Ostrava, 218 miles east of Prague.

Jirina Garajova, head of Ostrava's Jewish community, said that 25 tombstones were overturned at the Jewish cemetery in the nearby town of Bohumin over the weekend."

[Swede]

2. It's always ready to raise it's ugly head.

nt

[pschoeb]

4. Non-news story, happens to pretty much all cemetaries at some point

especially older unused ones, it's called bored delinquents. While it's awful, it's pretty common, and I'm not sure why I need to know about one in the Czech Republic?

Here's just an example of the many that have happened in Ontario Canada since 2005
http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~clifford/CemArticles.htm

[shenmue]

7. Why shouldn't we know?

It's part of a rise in anti-Semitic attacks. Didn't you read the article? And no, it's not just a problem of bored youth.

Don't you care?

:dunce:

Well, sounds like you already answered that, actually.

[pschoeb]

9. There's no evidence it's an anti-semitic attack

A true anti-semitic attack on a cemetery, includes anti-semitic graffiti. I doubt a hate group would go to all that trouble without actually making it clear what they hate. On the other hand mere overturning of stones is so common, especially in rural areas and cemeteries that are somewhat secluded. I actually care, as I love cemeteries for their peacefulness and history, and as such have studied them a lot, and unfortunately I see this all the time at any cemetery, especially older cemeteries, newer cemeteries have few knockable headstones both for this reason and grass cutting, which is a shame as the low headstones aren't as varied or interesting.

Overturning is so ubiquitous unfortunately that it is rather silly to jump to the conclusion that it was anti-semitic. If this cemetery had not been Jewish, it wouldn't have been news, if there had been actual graffiti or defacement of the headstones that would be a different story. The article actually says nothing about this being an anti-semitic attack or part of rising anti-semitism in this area. Since it fits the classic profile of cemeteries that get hit the most by overturning, older not used for new graves, out of the way place, I highly doubt it is.

Anti-semitism is not on the rise in the Czech Republic, it's kind of racist to act as if it is, and needs special attention by Americans

[LeftishBrit]

5. Sad...

Unfortunately, there are problems with organized and less organized far-right movements, that particularly attract disaffected young people, in many Europaean countries. Not unconnected with this sort of incident.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. Even after death....

...seems some just can't stop hating us! We are still less than half our population before 1934, and yet, we still are the most hated group the world over. Sad.