Spanish Town until recently called Fort Kill the Jews is subject to antisemitic graffiti

Residents of Castrillo Mota de Judíos, a Spanish village in Northern Spain, discovered graffiti earlier this week in four locations, including at the entrance to the townhall, on the signpost welcoming visitors to the village, at the site of a future Sephardic centre, and on a sign marking the village’s twinning with an Israeli city.

The village, which has only about 50 residents and no Jewish inhabitants, was originally called Castrillo Motajudíos, or Jew’s Hill Fort, in 1035, when Jews sought refuge there from a nearby pogrom. In 1627, the town was renamed Castrillo Matajudíos, or Fort Kill The Jews, during the Inquisition.

In June 2015, following a referendum held by Mayor Lorenzo Rodriguez, the village’s name reverted to Castrillo Mota de Judíos, with the Mayor also undertaking efforts to restore the village’s Jewish heritage.

Some of the graffiti amended signs to the town’s old name, while the leader of the Inquisition was also praised.

Mayor Rodriguez said: “These are cowardly, intolerant and ignorant people who do not value neither heritage nor people; nor do they have respect for anyone or anything. These intolerant people are not allowed here.”

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