Moldovan political parties condemn antisemitic act in Chisinau
Political parties have condemned the 13 December rally by a group of Christian Orthodox priests and parishioners, and described them as acts of vandalism.
The Moldovan Democratic Party (PDM) expressed regret about what happened, stressing that it would do its utmost to have the organizers of this act punished.
"These unjustified acts of ethnic and religious hatred are aimed against Moldova's democracy and all the citizens of our state. This will throw Moldova back, into a situation of mutual intolerance and hatred, and their organizers posed awful threat to Moldova's democratic and European future," the PDM's press release said.
"We declare with promptitude that we will do our best so that the organizers of the anti-Semitic and xenophobe acts of vandalism are called to account. No matter what cloth the fanaticism and religious fundamentalism puts on, it is an unacceptable and extremely dangerous social phenomenon, which can be ceased only by firm actions," the Democrats' press release also said.
For their part, members of the Moldovan Party of Communists (PCRM) said that these actions have direct similarities with the tragic events of a pogrom held in Chisinau in 1903. The PCRM asked the Prosecutor General's Office to thoroughly investigate "the criminal and anti-Semitic actions."
The Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM) was the first to issue a communiqué on the matter. In the document, the PLDM expressed concern about the actions of religious hatred and intolerance that took place in Chisinau last Sunday. The Liberal Party and Our Moldova Alliance do not have an official position on this incident yet.
Over 100 Christian Orthodox believers protested in the centre of Chisinau against a Jewish symbol set on the occasion of one of the main Jewish religious holiday, Hanukkah. After having chanted anti-Jewish slogans, the protesters brought down the Menorah (eight-branched candlestick) and replaced it with a wooden cross.
Moldpres (State news agency, Republic of Moldova)
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