Grave Crosses and Christ Figures Targeted in Repeated Cemetery Vandalism in Appenzell
Grave crosses and depictions of Christ were again deliberately damaged at a cemetery in Appenzell, marking a repeated pattern of vandalism targeting Christian symbols. The incidents have raised concern due to the specific destruction of crosses and religious figures.
The most recent incident occurred on the night of 5 January at the cemetery next to the St. Mauritius Parish Church, where multiple grave crosses were damaged by unknown perpetrators. This follows earlier cases in which Christian symbols were directly targeted: in September 2022, 13 graves were vandalised, with metal figures of Jesus either stolen or left behind damaged, including cases where heads or arms had been broken off. In other instances, crosses were deliberately snapped or removed.
A similar act of vandalism had already been recorded around five years earlier. While police have not established a motive for the most recent incident, investigations are ongoing. Authorities confirmed that perpetrators in the 2022 case were identified, whereas those responsible for the latest damage have not yet been found. Despite the recurrence of incidents, local church representatives have stated that video surveillance is not currently planned, expressing doubts about its effectiveness as a deterrent.
Source: appenzellerzeitung.ch