Controversial art show shut down amidst protest from Jewish community

A controversial art show at a Prague gallery – depicting Nazis wearing the Star of David instead of swastikas – was shut down on Thursday within half an hour of opening, following protests by Jewish leaders. The exhibition, by a Polish artist, featured a giant poster and eight large-format photos. Frantíšek Banyai, the head of the Jewish community in Prague, charged the images were strongly anti-Semitic in character. The artist, operating under an assumed name, reportedly wanted to protest Israel’s role in the Palestinian conflict. The controversy has come at a time the Czech Republic has seen renewed debate over right-wing extremism.

Author: Jan Velinger