European Politicians Slam Antisemitic Symbols in Moldova
European Parliament members voiced deep concern over the existence of antisemitic monuments in Moldova, labeling it a "disturbing act" that violates European values and the fight against antisemitism.
The open letter, signed by MEPs from various factions, calls attention to the issue directly and explains, "We, the MEPs and the signatories of this letter, are particularly concerned about the country that is being built in Moldova."
Monuments are highlighted that commemorate notorious antisemitic politicians and revisit past events related to the massacre of Romanian Jews.
Among these monuments are the Statue of Octavian Gorga and the Classical Alley in Chisinau Central Park. Romania's Prime Minister Goga is also a co-founder of the National Christian Party, whose emblem contains a swastika.
The party was involved in antisemitic violence, enacted laws stripping a third of Romanian Jews of citizenship, and committed acts of violence against the Jewish community.
European Values
Frederic Rees (Belgium), one of the MEPs, underscored the gravity of the situation, stating, "While the EU is working to prevent and combat all forms of antisemitism and antisemitic hate, what is happening in Moldova is not only extreme but also a great insult to Holocaust survivors and the entire Jewish community."
These sentiments were echoed by several other MEPs, including Katja Müller (Germany), Monika Benová (Slovakia), Dietmar Köster (Germany), Ljudmila Novak (Slovenia), Olivier Chastel (Belgium), Lukas Mandl (Austria), Ilana Cicurel (France), Charles Goerens (Renew, Luxembourg), Pierre Larrouturou (France), Helmut Geuking (Germany), Marc Angel (Luxembourg), and Michael Gahler (Germany), who jointly urged the Moldavian government to immediately address the issue and emphasized the importance of adhering to European values and protecting the rights of minorities.
The aforementioned monuments in Moldova that commemorate Romanian Jews and events related to the Holocaust are perceived as "extreme" and a "great insult" to the survivors of the Holocaust and the entire Jewish community by European MEPs.
The open letter, signed by MEPs, calls on the Moldavian government to take immediate action to rectify the situation, and emphasizes the importance of adhering to European values and protecting the rights of minorities.
Enrichment Insights
The controversy in Moldova involves an attack on a menorah by an extremist Christian organization in 2009. This incident is mentioned in the broader context of antisemitic incidents in Europe. While there's no specific mention of a monument being targeted in Moldova in the provided sources, the European MEPs might condemn such incidents as a violation of European values and a slur against Holocaust survivors because they reflect a resurgence of antisemitism and a disregard for the historical significance and dignity of Jewish heritage. Antisemitic acts, including the vandalism of synagogues and Jewish memorials, are widely condemned as they perpetuate hatred and disrespect towards the Jewish community and the victims of the Holocaust[3][5].
In the context of Moldova, the mention of the attack on a menorah in 2009 highlights the broader issue of antisemitic incidents across Europe, which are often linked to far-right and extremist groups. This type of vandalism is seen as a desecration of Jewish heritage and a manifestation of the ongoing struggle against anti-Semitism in Europe[3].
