Wiesenthal Center: Hate Crime At Moscow Synagogue Demands That Russian Authorities Take Direct Legal Measures Against Violent Skinhead Groups

January 11, 2006

WIESENTHAL CENTER: HATE CRIME AT MOSCOW SYNAGOGUE DEMANDS THAT RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES TAKE DIRECT LEGAL MEASURES AGAINST VIOLENT SKINHEAD GROUPS

The Simon Wiesenthal Center urged Russian authorities to take measures to secure synagogues and Jewish schools in wake of a bloody attack at a Chabad synagogue in Moscow by a Nazi skinhead who stabbed eight people while screaming 'Heil Hitler'-- leaving five in critical condition.
“We call on authorities to take immediate and specific actions against neo-Nazi groups and those whose anti-Jewish invective have led to violent hate crimes against Jews and other minorities,” urged Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Jewish human rights group.
“The subculture of hate is not in hiding and it is past time for Russian authorities to take strong measures against those racists and antisemites. Without a sustained and concerted effort to upgrade security and moving against such groups, today’s horrific attack could inspire other extremists,” Cooper concluded.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS and the Council of Europe.

For more information, please contact the Center's Public Relations Department, 310-553-9036, or visit www.wiesenthal.com.