Vandals desecrate Jewish cemetery

Vandals destroyed or damaged at least 75 monuments and tombstones at the Jewish cemetery in Námestovo on Monday. According to a sociologist, this reflects the current social atmosphere and the fact that Slovaks have not coped with national tradition. According to police, writing on a social network, the material damage of the vandalism is at least 50 thousand euros. Police have opened a criminal investigation. The attack was condemned by members of the Jewish organization B´nai B´rith Tolerancia in Bratislava. Tombstone damage at a local cemetery is a manifestation of anti-Semitism and an act that is fueled by circles of extremist and neo-Nazi cells. They also consider this to be the result of populist and nationalist statements by certain politicians, as well as the failure to punish perpetrators of similar acts.