Another Shocking Assault on Christmas: Beheading of Joseph and Mary, Theft and Vandalism Strike European Nativity Scene

In the serene town of Westmalle, Belgium, known for its strong sense of community and festive celebrations, an anti-Christian act of vandalism has once again marred the holiday spirit. The town’s cherished nativity scene, traditionally set up in the square outside the town hall, became the target of a brutal act of attack. In this latest incident, the statues of Joseph and Mary were savagely beheaded, a sheep stolen, and the donkey damaged.

This year’s vandalism is not the first such incident in Westmalle. “Last year, we faced a similar situation, though not as grave as what we see now. The figures are now completely unusable,” remarked Mayor Sanne Van Looy (N-VA), clearly distressed by the recurrence. These repeated acts underscore a disturbing trend of disregard for communal properties, non-Muslim places of worship, and cherished traditions.

The severity of this year’s damage has cast a particularly dark shadow over the town’s Christmas season. Once a beacon of light and joy in the community, the nativity scene now stands incomplete and forlorn. In response, the municipality has filed a police report and is working closely with local businesses to obtain surveillance footage to identify those responsible for the desecration.

Broader Pattern of Attacks in Europe

Regrettably, Westmalle’s experience is not isolated but part of a broader, alarming pattern of attacks on Christmas symbols across Europe.

The Kassel Incident: Assault on Santa Claus

In Kassel, Germany, a man dressed as Santa Claus was subjected to a violent attack by a group of Muslim migrant teenagers. The confrontation not only left the Santa impersonator, Rainer B., injured and his costume torn but also brought to light the simmering cultural and religious tensions in the region.

Rüsselsheim Attack: Decapitation of Nativity Figures

Further intensifying the disturbing trend, a nativity scene in Rüsselsheim, Hesse, was gruesomely vandalized. The decapitation of the figures of Joseph, Mary, and the Three Wise Men near a church and Christmas market is an act fraught with symbolic hostility and an affront to European cultural values.

Arson Attack in Italy: Escalating Hostility

The series of attacks culminated in Italy with an arson assault on a church and its nativity scene. This act, allegedly perpetrated by an Islamic migrant, marks a dangerous escalation in the severity of these incidents, targeting the very heart of Christian religious tradition.

Societal Response and Reflection

These consecutive and escalating attacks in Germany, Italy, and now Belgium have ignited a wave of concern and anger across Europe. They have stirred debates about Islamic integration, religious tolerance, and the protection of cultural and religious traditions in an increasingly Islamized society. The challenge now lies in ensuring the safety and preservation of historical and cultural legacies amid open borders and mass Islamic migration.

As Europe continues to grapple with these complex issues, the vandalized nativity scene in Westmalle becomes more than just a local tragedy; it symbolizes a continent struggling to reconcile its cherished traditions with the realities of an Islamized Europe.