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Tombs in a Jewish Cemetery Desecrated in Hungarian Town Known for Skinheads

June 11, 1993
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Tombs in a Jewish cemetery were daubed with neo-Nazi slogans in a town in northeastern Hungary known for its right-wing skinhead movement.

Swastikas and slogans such as “Heil Hitler” and “Adolf” were painted on tombs, and others were damaged in Eger’s Jewish cemetery.

According to reports in the Hungarian media, satanic slogans were also painted on tombs in the town’s Catholic cemetery. However, television reports showed pictures of only the Jewish tombs.

Police declined to speculate on the identity of the vandals, refusing to make a connection between Eger’s strong skinhead movement and the attack, which was believed to have taken place at midnight.

The vandalism of Jewish tombs is among the issues raised in play written by a Hungarian-born Jew, Gyorgy Tabori, and now being shown in Budapest.

The premier of the play “Jubilee” was held last week and has become a hit.

Tabori, in his 80s, first produced the play in 1983 in Bochum, Germany, on the 50th anniversary of Adolf Hitler’s rise to power.

One of the play’s messages was that skinheads and right-wing forces are alive and well in society — and difficult to stop.

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