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Police investigate swastika graffiti painted over Rambam statue in Cordoba, Spain

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Swastika graffiti was found on the base of a statue of Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (Maimonides) in Cordoba, Spain, an act local authorities condemned as antisemitic.
  • The graffiti, painted in the heart of the city's Jewish quarter, was immediately addressed by officials who called it a serious message of hate and an attack on heritage.
  • Spanish Jewish communities expressed strong repudiation, emphasizing that Maimonides, a revered historical figure, represents shared heritage and values, and that such vandalism attacks universal culture.

A swastika was spray-painted on the base of a statue honoring Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, known as the Rambam or Maimonides, in Cordoba, Spain. The incident occurred in the Tiberiades plaza, located in the city's historic Jewish quarter, prompting swift condemnation from local authorities.

Cintia Bustos, acting mayor, described the graffiti as an attack on the city's heritage and a message of hate. Antonio Hurtado, a spokesperson for the Socialist Party in Cordoba, echoed these sentiments, calling the vandalism in the historic quarter "extremely serious."

The statue of Maimonides [Rambam] in Córdoba appears with a swastika. I have requested that it be cleaned immediately, but it is concerning the vandalism in our Historic Quarter, which attacks not only people but also our rich heritage.

— Antonio HurtadoLocal politician expressing concern and condemnation over the antisemitic graffiti.

City officials ordered a temporary sign placed over the defaced base while arrangements were made for cleaning. The incident drew strong reactions from Spain's Jewish communities. The Federation of Spanish Jewish Communities issued a statement repudiating the targeting of the "Jewish, Sephardic, Cordoban, Spanish, universal figure" with a Nazi symbol.

Our total repudiation of the targeting with a Nazi symbol of this Jewish, Sephardic, Cordoban, Spanish, universal figure.

— Federation of Spanish Jewish CommunitiesStatement condemning the attack on the Maimonides statue.

The Barcelona Jewish Community highlighted Maimonides' significance, noting that the Great Synagogue of Barcelona bears his name. They stated that attacking his statue with a Nazi symbol is an assault on shared history, the Golden Age, culture, and the values of knowledge, freedom, and coexistence that his legacy embodies.

The statue, a bronze sculpture by Amadeo Ruiz Olmos created in 1964, commemorates the 760th anniversary of Maimonides' death. He is believed to be buried in Cordoba. Spanish National Police are investigating the case. This incident is part of a series of vandalism attacks on Cordoba's heritage sites, though not all have been explicitly antisemitic.

Attacking his statue with a Nazi symbol is an attack on our shared history, on the Golden Age, on our culture, on the values of knowledge, freedom, and coexistence that his legacy represents. Hate can never prevail over culture.

— Barcelona Jewish CommunityExplaining the broader significance of the attack on the statue and its cultural implications.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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