A statue of Maimonides, the revered Jewish philosopher and Torah scholar known as the Rambam, was defaced with swastika graffiti in Córdoba's Tiberiades Plaza, located in the city's historic Jewish Quarter. The vandalism was discovered Saturday on the base of the bronze monument. Municipal workers covered the graffiti while specialists worked to remove the paint. Spain's National Police opened an investigation into the incident.
Jewish organizations issued swift condemnations. The Jewish Community of Barcelona called it "an attack on our shared history, on the Golden Age, on our culture, on the values of knowledge, freedom, and coexistence that his legacy represents." The Federation of Spanish Jewish Communities expressed what it called its "total repudiation" Of the attack. The European Jewish Congress said the incident was "a stark reminder that antisemitism continues to target not only Jewish people, but also Jewish history, memory and culture."
The bronze statue was created by Spanish sculptor Amadeo Ruiz Olmos in 1964. Maimonides was born in Córdoba in the 12th century before his family fled Muslim Spain amid religious persecution. Regarded as one of Judaism's greatest scholars, he authored the Mishneh Torah, a comprehensive code of Jewish law, and The Guide for the Perplexed, a philosophical work that influenced Jewish thought and Western philosophy. He also worked as a physician and astronomer.
The vandalism occurs against a backdrop of rising antisemitism in Spain. A Spanish government report found that antisemitic offenses rose 86% in 2025, with Jews targeted in 69 reported hate crimes and related incidents. Approximately 70,000 Jews currently live in Spain.