The Provincial Court of Madrid began a trail against a man accused of painting a large Nazi swastika outside a synagogue in the Chamberí district. The act caused significant distress among the local Jewish community, with the Public Prosecutor describing it as a “trivialisation of genocide and a glorification of Hitler”.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred between 00:17 and 00:21 on 31 July 2021. The accused allegedly went to the ‘Beth Yaacov’ Synagogue, located at number 3, Calle Balmes, and painted a large Nazi swastika — the most recognisable symbol of the German National Socialist Party — on a bollard just metres from the synagogue’s entrance. The graffiti was created at a time when people were inside the building and in a highly visible area.
In the indictment, the Public Prosecutor charges the defendant with a crime against human dignity and is seeking a custodial sentence of fifteen months. The act, the prosecution argues, caused “significant negative impact and distress” among Madrid’s Jewish community, constituting “an attack on the dignity of those targeted” through a degrading and contemptuous display.
It was further stated that the swastika symbolised the glorification of Hitler and the Nazi regime, based on the ideology of Aryan racial superiority and contempt for those deemed racially inferior. The graffiti therefore not only trivialised the Holocaust but also served as a symbolic act of hate.
The City Council of Madrid promptly arranged for the graffiti to be removed in an effort to mitigate the emotional harm caused, incurring a cleaning cost of €25, for which it is seeking compensation.
