Shocking grave desecrations in Vienna: An attack on our history!

Shocking grave desecrations in Vienna: An attack on our history!

The city of Vienna is shaken by a wave of outrage after scandalous grave desecrations occurred again. Around eight graves in the Großjedlersdorf cemetery were broken open, coffins opened and the remains of the deceased searched for jewelry and grave goods. These diabolical acts come amid an already worrying series of incidents in which numerous graves, particularly those of members of the Roma and Sinti communities, have been desecrated since the beginning of the year. Olga Voglauer, spokesperson for the Green Party, calls for complete investigations and speaks of an attack on the dignity of the affected communities ots.at reported.

The relatives of the deceased are stunned by the desecration. One grandson described the pain as unimaginable, particularly the desecration of the grave of his grandmother, a Holocaust survivor. “What kind of people are these?” he asks full of anger, while those affected sink into grief over the disturbance of the peace of the dead. The police are faced with the challenge of identifying the perpetrators. In response, the bereaved are calling for video surveillance measures in the cemeteries. This has so far been rejected due to privacy concerns, but it is increasingly felt that such monitoring is essential to restore the respect that the deceased deserve. The police will continue to investigate the perpetrators who carry out the grave looting like professionals today.at.

These shocking incidents remind us of the historical responsibility not to forget the suffering and persecution of the Roma and Sinti communities. Voglauer sounds the alarm and calls on society to take action against any form of antigypsyism. The repetition of such grave desecrations is not only a crime against the dead, but also reinforces the urgent need for education and awareness in society.