Belgian Jews shocked by display of Nazi flag artwork in Brussels

The head of Belgium’s Jewish community said he was shocked by a display of an art work depicting a Nazi flag in central Brussels.

The work represents a black swastika on a red and white background with the words “And God created Hitler”

The work is by Fatmir Limani, an artist known for provocative pieces. Limani is also a local socialist politician and a councillor in the Brussels commune of Koekelberg.

Interviewed by RTBF, Yohan Benizri, president of the Coordinating Committee of Belgian Jewish Organisations (CCOJB) – the country’s EJC affiliate – said he was shocked by the work.

“To see a sign like that in the streets of Brussels, this can be hurtful. Voir un signe comme cela dans les rues de Bruxelles, cela peut heurter. When people see it, in a context of rising antisemitism, it gives an even worse image of Belgium than that which exists today inside the Jewish and non-Jewish population.

Benizri said he understood the artist’s tendency to shock, but added: “At the end of the day, I rather had the impression that this is artistic populism: one creates something shocking without intending any added value. I get that the artist does not wish to promote this ideology but his choice is in bad taste”.

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