The Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece sent the following letter to the Counselor Minister of the Embassy of Spain to Greece Mr. Javier Triana Jimenez, regarding the terrorist attack in Barcelona:

“Dear Minister,

On behalf of the Greek Jewry we would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the Spanish people for the deadly terror attack that hit the popular tourist area of Las Ramblas in Barcelona. The words are very poor to describe the magnitude of evil, the hatred and the horror of such brutality.

The choice of such a crowded tourist area and the tragic result of the attack, 13 people dead until now and dozens of others injured, shows that the perpetrators wanted to struck the core values of Humanism and Democracy, all principles we stand for and have struggled for.

Joining the whole world, we express our most heartfelt sorrow and condolences to the families of the victims, wishing to all those injured to have a speedy and full recovery. 

On behalf of the Greek Jewry, we kindly ask you to convey this message to the Spanish Government and remain”.

Athens, August 18, 2017

CENTRAL BOARD OF JEWISH COMMUNITIES IN GREECE

WORLD JEWISH CONGRESS, 17.8.2017:  World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder has condemned the attack in Barcelona which claimed the lives of a reported 13 people on Thursday, after a van drove into pedestrians in the crowded Las Ramblas district. The circumstances of the events were still unfolding, and the Spanish authorities were investigating the incident as a terrorist attack.

“The World Jewish Congress harshly condemns this heinous act of violence and carnage, and is carefully monitoring this situation with concern. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this attack and their families, and with all the people of Barcelona. “We are monitoring the events as they unfold with care and concern, and are in touch with the local Jewish community and its security groups. We pray that there will be no more victims”.

EUROPEAN JEWISH CONGRESS, 18.8.2017: The European Jewish Congress (EJC) strongly condemns the terror attack in Barcelona today after a van crashed on to a pavement in a popular tourist area of the city killing at least 13 people and injuring dozens of others.

“We are yet again witness to another terrorist attack in Europe perpetrated against innocent civilians,” Dr. Moshe Kantor, President of the EJC, said. “They are choosing to strike again at our zest for life and our basic freedoms with their cult of death. It is becoming increasingly difficult to prevent this abuse of regular vehicles as their chosen instrument of murder.” “We stand with the Spanish people and urge the authorities to bring to justice those who perpetrated this savage attack, including those who inspired it and those whose incitement encouraged it.” “The European Jewish Congress and the Jewish communities of Europe extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy and full recovery to those injured”.

In the evening of Monday July 17, 2017, an individual dressed as a monk who calls himself ‘father Kleomenis’ -a cult figure, popular for his bigot ideas and You tube posts- attacked and vandalized the Holocaust Monument in Larissa, situated in the central Jewish Martyrs Square of the city. In his video posted on You Tube, the alleged monk curses the Jews, denies the Holocaust and calls on the local patriots of Larissa to intervene and demolish the Monument. "Father" Kleomenis spits, kicks and throws eggs at the Monument. Some of his characteristic quotes: “Here, we read 6 million! Fairy tails… Shit on their faces, merely 600.000 Hitler wiped out!”. Kleomenis spits the Monument and says: “Satanic Jews”. He kicks the Monument and says: “Curse on your dirty Monuments” and continues: “Worms, Jewish bitches, this has to fall. The stinking Jewishness has to be taken down from Larissa. Rise up! Patriotic organizations of Larissa take it down, bring the bulldozer on!”.  Local police was notified and legal procedure was enacted. Investigation is ongoing. The Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece (KIS) and the Jewish Community of Larissa issued press releases. The Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church issued an announcement disassociating itself from the "monk" and condemning his actions.

The Municipality of Larissa issued an Announcement condemning the attack. The General Secretary of Religious Affairs George Kalantzis, as well as the General Secretary for Transparency and Human Rights Maria Giannakaki reacted swiftly by providing the Public Prosecutor of Larissa, the Racist Crimes Department of the Police, and the Cyber Crime Police Department with the relevant evidence. The President of the Jewish Community of Larissa pressed charges against the perpetrator. The Greek Helsinki Monitor also pressed charges against the “so called ‘father Kleomenis’ for a series of racist crimes”.

* The Announcement of KIS:

Shame and outrage are the feelings that one feels when realizes what happened in Larissa on Monday July 17, 2017: The shameful and upsetting incident of the desecration of the Holocaust Monument of Larissa –the first Holocaust Monument erected in Greece in 1987, in the memory of the Greek Jews deported and exterminated in the Nazi death camps. This highly significant Monument was vulgarly vandalized, with offensive expressions and brutal actions, by a robed clergyman who apparently has no affiliation to the Greek Orthodox Church.  On the same day leaflets of relevant anti-Semitic content were strewn across the Monument and the Square of Jewish Martyrs of Larissa. The case is being handled by the Police and the justice system. The Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece asked the competent  Authorities to arrest the perpetrator and bring him to justice.

In addition KIS expresses the Greek Jewry’s belief that the society of Larissa and all local institutions will firmly condemn the incident, will isolate the perpetrators and will treat with respect the Holocaust Monument of Larissa and the Jewish Community which is an integral part of the city, that they will ultimately respect the city’s very cultural heritage and civilization, as the people of Larissa have always done in the course of history.

Athens July 18, 2017

Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece