Over 130 graves desecrated in a Bucharest Jewish cemetery

Alert DateOctober 23, 2008 Country: Romania Address: Bucharest General Type: Racist violence, Discrimination Racism and discrimination phenomena: Anti-semitism
Groups affected / Interested in: Ethnic minorities, Religious minorities, National minorities Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Religion
Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Victims Gender N/A
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number N/A
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Perpetrator Gender N/A
Perpetrator Age N/A
Perpetrators Number N/A
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

In October 2008, over 130 graves and over 100 unique architectural monuments were destroyed in the Jewish cemetery in Bucharest. Emblematic representatives of the Romanian Jewish community such as the Oscar winner actress Maia Morgenstern condemned the lack of interest of Romanian authorities, the bureaucratic and administrative indifference and in essence the fact that local authorities wanted to transform the unacceptable into acceptable. The Director of the Romanian Elie Wiesel Institute, Mr. Alexandru Florian declared that, in Romania, there are not only indirectly racist expressions or symbols, but also actions based on such thinking, and saw these acts of vandalism as the peak of such violence. The President and Prime Minister condemned the acts. [1]  The Romanian police declared it found 131 gravestones pulled down, of which 53 were completely or partially destroyed. Yet, for all this, those who were found to be responsible by the Romanian authorities were around four high-school students assisted by another 22 from fifth to seventh grade. Out of the four, only three were above 14. [2]

According to the Center for Monitoring and Combating AntiSemitism in Romania, authorities tend to play down anti-Semitic vandalism, usually attributing the acts to children, drunks, or persons with mental disorders. [3]

 

Sources:

1. Marius Mihaiescu, “The Jewish community is accusing the Romanian authorities of indifference after the desecration of the Jewish cemetery”, in Hotnews.ro available at:  http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-4987062-comunitatea-evreiasca-din-romania-acuza-autoritatile-indiferenta-dupa-profanarea-cimitirului-evreiesc.htm Maud Swinnen, "Cemetery desecration: Jews denounce the authorities indifference", in European Jewish Press, 29.10.2008, available at: http://www.ejpress.org/article/31532 (Accessed on 01.03.2012)

2. Hotnews.ro, The Jewish cemetery, vandalized by four students for the making of a video clip, 5.11.2008, available at: http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-5061497-cimitirul-evreiesc-vandalizat-patru-elevi-pentru-realizarea-unui-videoclip.htm (Accessed on 01.03.2012)

3. As referenced in the US Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, 2009 Human Rights Report: Romania, available at: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127332.htm (Accessed on 01.03.2012) These reports give overviews of the anti-Semitic incidents in Romania, grave desecration being just one type of such acts.