Genocide monument daubed
RACIST and anti-Semitic graffiti which was sprayed on an Assyrian genocide monument in Western Sydney will only bring our communities together, a senior Assyrian community representative told The AJN.
The monument in Bonnyrigg Park was defaced with swastikas, SS logos and language offensive to Assyrians, Armenians and Jews some time between Wednesday and Thursday mornings (April 15 and 16).
Around 300,000 Assyrians are estimated to have been killed within the Ottoman Empire during the First World War.
Assyrian Universal Alliance regional secretary Australia and New Zealand David David told The AJN it is the fourth time the monument has been targeted.
“We condemn such an act,” he said.
“It’s just making the relations stronger and stronger with other communities, especially with the Jewish community, to work closer and have very tight relations and fight racism and vandalism.
“We have very close relations with the [NSW] Jewish Board of Deputies, with the Armenians, also the Greeks, and many other communities.”
He added that the vandalism was “unacceptable in Australia”.
“It’s been reported to the police and they’re trying to do their best to find [the culprits]. The Commander mentioned to me that it’s unacceptable, un-Australian,” he said.
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president Jeremy Spinak commented: “We are disgusted, not only with the vile anti-Semitism on display, but that this has happened to our good friends in the Assyrian community. They have been strong supporters of the Jewish community and we now stand with them in denouncing this disgraceful act.
“What is worse is that their community is about to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the Assyrian genocide. The incident demonstrates that we must continue to work together to stamp out this type of bigoted thuggery.”
B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich said he was “horrified and outraged”.
“As Jews, we know all too well what it is like to be targeted by violence and racism, and we decry this senseless and disgraceful act of disrespect toward the deceased,” he said.
A police spokesperson said detectives were looking into the circumstances behind the incident and appealed for information that may assist in the investigation.
Meanwhile, some of the plastic pipes on power poles in St Ives that form part of the North Shore eruv were found ripped and smashed last week.
While it is unclear whether anti-Semitism is a factor, Ku-ring-gai Local Area Command has warned of charges for anyone caught damaging the infrastructure.
GARETH NARUNSKY
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