Vandalism at Evangelical church in Pyskowice

Case information
Incident date
Country
Poland
Place
Pyskowice
Categories
  • Social Hostility / Intolerance
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Private
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Vandalism (all)
  • Vandalism of Christian Building (other)
Place of Incident
  • Church
Bias Indicators
  • Comments/Written Statements/Gestures/Graffiti
  • Lack of Other Motive
  • Significance of Property/Structure/Location to religious community
  • Victim/Witness Perception
Reported to Police
  • Yes
Response of Local Authorities
  • Investigated
Image credit: Gliwice nasze miasto

On 13 July , vandals desecrated the grounds of the Evangelical-Augsburg parish, tearing off a rain gutter, damaging a masonry wall, and spraying vulgar graffiti on the bell tower door. The local pastor warned against an erosion of respect for places of worship and the Evangelical community in Pyskowice.

The damage was discovered on Sunday morning, 13 July, before the church service. The perpetrators caused structural damage: a gutter was forcibly removed, a wall was damaged, and profane and offensive graffiti was written on the door leading to the bell tower. The inscriptions included vulgar language and other markings.

Rev. Andrzej Wójcik, parish administrator, publicly condemned the incident, stating that while physical damage can be repaired, such acts represent a deeper erosion of respect for places of worship and the Evangelical community in Pyskowice. He confirmed that the matter would be formally reported to law enforcement. “We strongly condemn acts of utter stupidity and total lack of respect, in this case toward a church - a spiritual place - that is important to the Evangelical community in Pyskowice.”

Source: Gliwice nasze miasto