The Christian Cross that was taken down in Lesvos after co-existence groups claimed it was offensive to Muslim migrants on the island, has been raised again by locals who were outraged it had been pulled down.  They simply used rocks and pebbles to lift the Cross and said they are now going to raise money to have the holy Christian symbol reinstalled properly.

As we reported via Greek City Times earlier this week, the large cement Christian cross, which was built on the rocky shore of Apelli, under the castle of Mytilene in Lesvos, in honour of people that have lost their lives in the shore there was pulled down as a co-existence group based on the island claimed it was offensive to migrants who are not Christian.

“This act is illegal, unsightly (reminiscent of a grave) but mostly offensive to the symbol of Christianity, a symbol of love and sacrifice, not racism and intolerance,” wrote the NGO Group to the island’s Mayor.

Locals were outraged the Cross symbolising Christian faith was pulled down and said it’s unacceptable behaviour as the majority of people who reside on Lesvos are Greek Orthodox.

“That is an act of hate, whoever did this used a heavy object to deliberately pull it down,” said local resident Stelios Agas.

Locals who have just used rocks and pebbles to lift the Cross said they are now going to raise money to have the holy Christian symbol reinstalled properly.

Lesvos, which bore the brunt of the huge migrant influx in late 2015 and early 2016 and remains a popular option for people smugglers, is still struggling with the huge numbers of illegal immigrants.

Authorities want to build more camps there, but local authorities and residents have had enough.

Picture above shows a demonstartion last year when local residents closed businesses, joining a general strike aimed at drawing attention to their key demand: the immediate transfer of migrants to facilities on the Greek mainland.

“Lesvos is not an open prison, nor will we allow anyone to view it as such,” the island’s Mayor emphasised, noting that the rising migrant population has “fueled insecurity among citizens.”

Source:http: ekathimerini.com ,  greekcitytimes.com