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🇰🇷 South Korea /Crime & Justice

Man in Jewish attire assaults nun at Jerusalem holy site

From Hankyoreh · (5m ago) Korean Critical tone

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A man in Jewish attire assaulted a nun near a Christian holy site in Jerusalem, sparking outrage.
  • The assailant pushed and kicked the nun in front of bystanders before fleeing; police arrested a 36-year-old suspect.
  • This incident follows a recent controversy over Israeli soldiers destroying a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon, increasing criticism of Israeli actions.

The recent assault on a nun near the "Upper Room" on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, a site sacred to both Christians and Jews, has ignited widespread condemnation. Video footage shows a man, dressed in what appears to be Orthodox Jewish clothing, violently attacking the nun, pushing her to the ground and kicking her. This act of aggression, occurring in broad daylight with witnesses present, is a deeply disturbing incident that has rightly drawn criticism from various quarters.

This is a shameful act. Jerusalem will continue to strive to protect freedom of religion and worship for all religions.

— Israeli Foreign MinistryIn response to the assault on the nun.

Israeli authorities were quick to respond, arresting a 36-year-old resident of Jerusalem within two hours of the attack. While police are investigating all possible motives, the incident has been framed by some as part of a broader pattern of hostility towards Christians and their holy sites. The newspaper "The Times of Israel" reported that the assailant was wearing Jewish ritual attire, adding a layer of religious tension to the event.

The victim, a 48-year-old researcher at the French Institute of Religious Archaeology in Jerusalem, sustained injuries and required hospital treatment. Her institution confirmed her identity but stated she did not wish to speak publicly. The attack occurred in front of the "Upper Room," a location significant to Christians as the site of the Last Supper and to Jews as the traditional burial place of King David.

This incident is part of a growing trend of hostility and concern directed at Christians and their symbols.

— Hebrew UniversityCommenting on the attack on the nun.

This incident is particularly galling given the recent global outcry over footage of Israeli soldiers destroying a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon. The Israeli Foreign Ministry has condemned the act as "shameful" and pledged to uphold freedom of religion and worship in Jerusalem. However, a European diplomatic source in Jerusalem noted that such acts of desecration and verbal abuse against Christians by extremist elements have become disturbingly common, highlighting a growing problem that requires more than just official statements.

The actions of extremists against Christians, including insults and spitting, occur on a daily basis in Jerusalem.

— European diplomatic source in JerusalemDescribing the general atmosphere for Christians in the city.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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