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Unknown people hoist Palestine flags on the Votive Church bell tower!
Unidentified people hoisted Palestine flags on the bell tower of the Votivkirche in Vienna. Police are investigating the incident.
Unknown people hoist Palestine flags on the Votive Church bell tower!
At the weekend there was a surprising and controversial incident in Vienna: unknown people hoisted Palestine flags on the bell tower of the Votive Church. This event coincided with a Palestine demonstration in the city center held to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. According to reports from meinkreis.at Several hundred people took part in the demonstration, which took place on November 29th.
The police and the State Office for State Security and Combating Extremism (LSE) were informed about the action, which attracted a lot of public interest. On Monday, the flags were removed with a crane after the Archdiocese of Vienna, represented by Father Joseph Farrugia, distanced itself from the action and ordered the flags removed. Investigations into the identity of those responsible are ongoing, but so far no criminal offenses have been identified, as police spokeswoman Julia Schick announced.
Reactions from the population
The reactions of the Viennese were different. Many were stunned by the incident. 5min.at reports that several complaints have been received by the police, who are now investigating and documenting the incident. The flags were visible over the city for two days until they were finally removed.
The situation remained particularly tense in the context of the large demonstration in Vienna, in which between 3,000 and 3,500 people took part. This event was dedicated to Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip. Activists expressed combative tones and demanded action against the Jewish state. They held placards with slogans such as “Free Palestine” and “From the River to the Sea,” which, according to a 2023 decree from the Austrian Justice Ministry, could be viewed as consent to terrorist crimes orf.at.
The demonstration ensured an intensive exchange of views. Critical voices such as Shoura Zehetner-Hashemi from Amnesty International Austria and Stefan Schennach from the SPÖ underlined the humanitarian crisis and the need for further discussions about the political situation in the Middle East.
In summary, the incident at the Votivkirche is not only a sign of the current political discontent, but also increases the tensions surrounding public demonstrations in Vienna. It remains to be seen what legal action may be taken against the unknown perpetrators.