Anti-Jewish medieval sculpture can stay on church, top German court rules

FILE PHOTO: A thirteenth century anti-Semitic sculpture is displayed at St. Marien church in Wittenberg, Germany, January 24, 2020. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's top court ruled on Tuesday that a medieval anti-Semitic sculpture can stay on the facade of a church in the eastern town of Wittenberg, rejecting an appeal by a Jewish plaintiff who has for years argued it is an insult to all Jews.

The 13th century "Judensau" or "Jew Sow" on the town church depicts a caricature of a rabbi lifting the tail of a sow and two Jewish children suckle on the teats. Pigs are considered unclean in Judaism.