Jewish community in Mostar alleges rise in hate-motivated attacks

In a statement issued Tuesday, the community alleged that on the night of July 2, unidentified individuals broke into the Jewish cemetery in Mostar, destroyed a flagpole displaying the Israeli flag, and stole the flag itself. According to the same statement, a second incident occurred just five days later, on July 7, when stones were allegedly thrown at the home of one of the community’s elderly members, which the community described as “an apparent act of intimidation that has deeply disturbed us all.”

The community further alleged that these events are not isolated.

“They follow a series of incidents over the past months surrounding the land designated for a future synagogue in Mostar, as well as an incident where the phrase ‘Allahu Akbar’ was spray-painted in red at the entrance of the residential building where the president of the Jewish Community [Amir Gross Kabiri] lives with his family,” the statement reads.

The Mostar Jewish Community characterised these actions not merely as acts of vandalism or criminal mischief but as “attacks on the values of coexistence, human dignity, and social harmony.”

In response to the alleged threats, the community says it has already implemented several urgent security and organisational measures to protect its property and ensure the safety of its members.

“We are currently planning a meeting with relevant institutions to discuss these serious incidents, agree on specific steps to strengthen security, and ensure that hate crimes are addressed swiftly and decisively,” the statement said. “We will continue reporting every such case and trust that the City of Mostar and all responsible institutions will act in accordance with the law and their duty to protect all citizens equally.”

The Mostar Jewish Community is one of the country’s smallest religious communities, but it remains an integral part of the city’s historical and cultural fabric.