Pig meat left outside two Swiss synagogues

Police are investigating incidents, which Jewish community called a deliberate attempt to desecrate the houses of worship

By Cnaan Liphshiz 11 February 2021, 6:26 am

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Cnaan Liphshiz was a Jewish World reporter at The Times of Israel

A member of the GIL Jewish community, Karin Rivollet, speaks about Judaism at the GIL synagogue in Geneva, Switzerland, Sept. 6, 2020. (Courtesy of GIL via JTA)

JTA — Pig meat was left at the entrance to two synagogues in Switzerland.

The incidents last week were a deliberate attempt to desecrate the CIL Orthodox synagogue in Lausanne and the GIL Reform synagogue in Geneva, the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities wrote in a statement published last week.

Far-right activists in Europe have in the past placed pig meat, parts and carcasses at mosques, and more rarely at synagogues, as pigs are considered unclean in both Islam and Judaism.

Different individuals carried out each act, the federation’s statement said. Police are investigating the synagogues’ complaints.

At the Lausanne synagogue, the perpetrator left a stuffed pig toy and a pack of bacon, the federation said. In Geneva it was several pieces of pig meat.