Graffiti representing swastikas and Stars of David were found painted in and around a Jewish cemetery in Kraainem, Flemish Brabant, on Tuesday.
The damaging pictographs, found on entrance signs and cemetery walls, were reported by maintenance staff. Local police, who confirmed the incident, said they would file an official report and anonymous charges. The
The graffiti have since been cleaned up.
According to Kraainem Mayor Bertrand Waucquez, this is the first time such an act has been committed in the community.
“We are in the dark about any potential link to the conflict in the Middle East, or the identities of the perpetrators, but investigations are underway,” Mayor Waucquez said.
The incident has been reported to UNIA, Belgium’s independent public service for combatting discrimination and promoting equal opportunities.
UNIA had voiced concern in late October about the possible resurgence of hate acts and speeches, particularly of an anti-Semitic nature, linked to the escalating Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The non-profit organisation that runs the cemetery views the desecration as a clearly anti-Semitic act that disavows the constitution’s fundamental principles of unity and acceptance regardless of gender, race, colour, or religion.
It has called on national and regional authorities to enhance citizenship education in schools and to severely penalise any anti-Semitic act.
As a preventive measure, the cemetery’s security detail has been strengthened. “Our primary concern is to prevent such incidents from reoccurring,” said Mayor Waucquez.
