Jewish cemetery desecrated in southern Czech town
Dozens of tombstones overturned at Pisek cemetery south of Prague; number of anti-Semitic incidents on rise in past few months
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.
In the past two months the number of anti-Semitic incidents have increased around Europe. There were a number of incidents of vandalism of Holocaust memorials and cemeteries in Russia and Germany.
About three-and-a-half months ago 180 graves were vandalized, including 45 Jewish graves, at the Sainte-Marie cemetery in northwest France. Five suspects were arrested for involvement in the incident, including two 17-year-old minors. A number of other anti-Semitic incidents were recorded in France in the past two months as well.
