Citizens' Protection Minister Christos Papoutsis on Monday issued a written response to a tabled question by independent MP Fotis Kouvelis concerning recent vandalism against a Jewish synagogue on the Ionian island of Corfu.
Papoutsis underlined in his response that "we are very sensitive on issues of racism and xenophobia and the citizens' protection ministry will not tolerate the creation of such a climate in the country including any expression of extreme manifestations of improper behaviour or racist phenomena. We send a clear message toward every direction that the ministry is determined to display zero tolerance to all kinds of violence and protect the rights of minorities and vulnerable citizens".
In the document dated May 11, Papoutsis underlined that the vandalism against the Corfu synagogue "is an isolated incident and under no circumstances constitutes a proof of racism and xenophobia in our country".
In his question Kouvelis underlined that "desecrations of monuments, attacks on synagogues, intolerance and anti-Semitism constitute shameful acts".
ANA
