18 Apr. 24
In a shocking incident, two Austrian Jewish tourists vandalized a pro-Palestinian mural in Fort Kochi in Ernakulam district, Kerala, on Tuesday. The mural, which displayed the message “Silence is Violence, Stand up for Humanity,” was part of the Cochin Carnival celebrations and was installed by the SIO regional unit, in December 2023. Local youths confronted the women as they were tearing down the mural, with the women allegedly claiming to be acting “for the Jewish people.”
Following a complaint from Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) area secretary Muhammed Azeem KS, the Kerala police have registered a case against the tourists. CCTV footage from the area shows one of the women photographing the mural before the duo proceeded to tear it down. One woman tore the mural down while the other recorded the act on her phone. When onlookers questioned their actions, a heated exchange ensued, with one of the tourists accusing the bystanders of spreading “propaganda and lies.”
Kochi is home to a small Jewish community of about 25 people. Jews have been present on the Kerala coast since at least the 12th century, either seeking refuge from persecution or to establish trade connections.
The SIO’s complaint stated that the tourists’ actions aimed to disrupt societal peace. The murals were put up to protest against the alleged genocide being carried out by Israel in Palestine. Despite initial reluctance from the police, a case was registered against the tourists after hours of SIO activists’ protest at the Fort Kochi police station on Tuesday night.
The police have booked the women under Section 153 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for wantonly committing illegal acts. Despite the complainant identifying the accused, the FIR was registered against unidentified accused.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has resulted in an estimated 33,000 deaths since October 7, 2023. Recent Israeli strikes on Gaza, including an attack on a playground and refugee camp, have claimed at least 40 lives. Also it is important to emphasize that criticizing Israel’s military actions is not synonymous with anti-Semitism.