A French court sentenced four Bulgarians to prison terms ranging from two to four years for vandalizing Paris’ Holocaust Memorial with red hand graffiti. The court also issued a lifetime ban from France for each of the individuals. The red hand symbol, which has historical ties to antisemitism, was part of a campaign allegedly orchestrated by Russia to incite social division and spread disinformation, according to French intelligence. The court emphasized the severity of the act and the site’s significance, highlighting the attempt at foreign interference.
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On January 29th, the Ahlem Memorial in Hanover, Germany, was vandalized for the second time in two years, with nine memorial wreaths destroyed—a particularly egregious act occurring just days after International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The incident, which involved the theft and destruction of wreaths laid during a remembrance ceremony, is under investigation by Hanover authorities, who have obtained surveillance footage of the perpetrator. This act of vandalism highlights a concerning rise in antisemitic incidents globally and in Germany specifically, emphasizing the ongoing need for vigilance and combating antisemitism. The memorial, located on the site of a former Nazi deportation point, holds significant historical importance.
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John Q. Hosedrinker