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Hungarian Jewish Cemetery Marred

April 30, 1996
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Anti-Semitic graffiti and solgans were painted on graves last week at the Central Jewish Cemetery on the outskirts of Budapest.

In addition to the swastikas and Stars of David on the graves, some 15 tombstones were overturned on the night of April 22.

And slogans were spray-painted that praised Ferenc Szalasi, the Hitler puppet who led the fascist Hungarian Arrow Cross Party in the 1940s and who was executed after World War II as a war criminal.

Hungarian police said their investigation had not yet turned up any suspects.

Acts of vandalism have increased in recent months in Hungary, not only at Jewish sites, but at Christian cemeteries and churches as well.

Jewish cemeteries and synagogues have been attacked primarily for anti-Semitic reasons. Incidents of vandalism at Christian churches and cemeteries generally involved thefts of precious religious objects.

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