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Israeli troops jailed for desecration of Virgin Mary statue in Lebanon

Israeli troops jailed for desecration of Virgin Mary statue in Lebanon

Summary

Two Israeli soldiers will serve short military prison terms after one put a cigarette in the mouth of a Virgin Mary statue in southern Lebanon and the other took a photo. The Israeli military condemned the act, saying it respects all religions, and also punished soldiers involved in a separate incident where a statue of Jesus was damaged.

Key Facts

  • One Israeli soldier placed a cigarette in the mouth of a Virgin Mary statue in southern Lebanon.
  • Another soldier photographed the scene with a cigarette in his own mouth.
  • The photo went viral and caused public outrage.
  • The soldier in the photo will be jailed for 21 days; the photographer for 14 days in military prison.
  • The Israeli military said it respects freedom of religion and religious symbols.
  • Soldiers who damaged a statue of Jesus in the same region were also sentenced to military prison.
  • Israeli forces control southern Lebanon after a conflict with the militant group Hezbollah started in early March.
  • Christians make up about one-third of Lebanon’s population of 5.5 million people.
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