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Series of vandalism shakes Vienna: Places of faith targeted!
In Vienna, several places of worship have been vandalized in 10 days, while Christian protection officials highlight the need for attention.
Series of vandalism shakes Vienna: Places of faith targeted!
There has been a shocking series of vandalism against places of worship in Vienna in the last ten days. Between September 14th and 24th, several places of worship were desecrated, placing a massive burden on the affected communities. Particularly badly affected are the “Zum Gottes Wort” church in Favoriten, which had to close due to massive vandalism, as well as the Nazi memorial of the Austrian Cartel Association in Josefstadt, which was badly damaged on the night of September 17th to 18th. The damage here amounts to several thousand euros, while the wall surfaces were covered in graffiti.
The prayer garden on the Marchfeld Canal in Floridsdorf experienced a massive attack on September 20th: 16 paintings were sprayed, two of which were badly damaged. A memorial stone and two statues also suffered serious damage due to vandalism. This shows a persistent disrespect for religious symbols and cultural heritage. The Paulanerkirche on the Wieden was daubed with red paint on the night of September 23rd and 24th. This incident has not yet been reported, but is part of a worrying series of attacks meinkreis.at report.
Cooperation between institutions
The reporting center christenschutz.at has documented the incidents and is concerned about the alarming extent of these attacks. Jan Ledóchowski, chairman of the reporting office, sees clear indications of left-wing extremist or Islamist motives behind these attacks. He urgently appeals to the population and the authorities not to ignore or downplay anti-Christian sentiments. Suha Dejmek, board member of the reporting office, adds that such acts violate not only property but also people's religious symbols and fuel mistrust, sadness and fear ots.at.
A look at Europe-wide developments
The developments of this wave of vandalism in Vienna cannot be viewed in isolation. According to the report by the “Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe” (OIDAC), the number of attacks on Christians in Europe has increased significantly. The rise in incidents is particularly alarming in countries such as the United Kingdom, France and Germany. Last year, Germany experienced a 105% increase in attacks, while France registered almost 1,000 cases, making it the country with the most attacks in Europe evangelisch.de.
Police statistics show that 62% of crimes against Christians in Germany consist of vandalism. This illustrates how important it is to stand together against such attacks and to promote respect for religious diversity.
In both cases, a clear message is needed: society must come together collectively to combat all forms of discrimination and vandalism. This is the only way to promote respectful cooperation.