Jews residing in Azerbaijan are seriously disturbed by the large-scale anti-Semitic campaign started in Baku. In response to the demand of the Chairman of the board of the religious community of mountain Jews of Azerbaijan Semyon Ihiilov the Ministry of Internal Affairs has undertaken additional security measures to strengthen guarding Baku synagogues. Those in Baku have always been protected as the manifestations of anti-Semitism have taken place in Azerbaijan rather often. Recently another armed official of the Ministry of the Internal Affairs joined the police detachment guarding the synagogues. A police patrol car guards it at night. The synagogue attendants, who do not have enough ground to rely on the law-enforcement bodies, undertake special security measures themselves, too. The rabbis only let permanent parishioners into the synagogue territory. “Echo” newspaper, being published in Baku writes that refusing to introduce himself an officer of “Havva” Jewish charitable center stated that local Jews “feared for their lives.” Let us remind that Azeri Islamists profaned Jewish cemetery last December, destroying some 50 graves. Leader of mountain Jews Semyon Ihiilov noted then that it was not the first case of that kind. He stressed that the extremist manifestations regarding Jewish religious temples had been registered before, too. These include insulting inscriptions on synagogues’ front walls, anti-Semitic drawings and inscriptions on house walls.
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