Rising Neo-Nazi Sentiment in Croatia Sees Local Jewish Community Boycott Holocaust Remembrance

ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatia’s Jewish community has confirmed that it will boycott an official Holocaust commemoration to protest government’s alleged inaction to curb the surge of neo-Nazi sentiments in the country.

The Coordinating Committee of the Jewish Communities of Croatia said Monday it would hold its own commemoration at a World War II Nazi-run death camp on April 15, a week before the ceremony that is to be attended by government officials.

Jewish committee officials have accused Croatia’s new right-wing government of ignoring open public resurgence of anti-Semitism, including pro-Nazi slogans chanted by Croatian fans during a soccer match between Croatia and Israel last month.

Tens of thousands of Jews, Serbs and Gypsies have died in death camps run by the Nazi puppet state of Croatia during WWII.