A historic synagogue in Sofia, Bulgaria, was vandalized with the words “Free Palestine” spray-painted on its outer wall, next to stickers commemorating those killed in the war. The incident was first reported by The Sofia Globe.
Members of the synagogue expressed outrage and issued a harsh statement on Facebook. “We cannot and will not remain indifferent to attempts to erase the suffering of the victims and normalize violence,” they wrote. “We will not allow anyone to mock the memory of the innocent or justify aggression and terror.”
The building holds deep symbolic significance for Bulgaria’s Jewish community, serving as a memorial site for victims of Hamas’s Oct. 7 terror attack in Israel. The synagogue’s leaders emphasized that “no one can erase the memory of the victims, not through words and not through acts like this.”
“This antisemitic act against the Sofia synagogue targeted a place dedicated to honoring victims of violence and terror,” the Central Israelite Religious Council of Bulgaria said in a statement. “It stains the memory of the dead. Instead of promoting empathy, humanity, and peace, it spreads incitement and hatred.”
According to The Sofia Globe, the graffiti was quickly removed, but representatives of the Central Israelite Religious Council reported the incident to local authorities to ensure appropriate legal action is taken.
The vandalism follows several similar incidents of desecration targeting Jewish monuments in Sofia and Burgas, as well as the synagogue in Varna.