A faceless baby Jesus statue likened to a zombie by a member of Belgium’s ruling conservative party mysteriously disappeared from a Christmas Nativity scene over the weekend.
Belgian authorities are perplexed by the apparent theft of a Jesus Christ mannequin from its crib on Brussel’s historic Grand Place.
The object is believed to have gone missing Friday night or Saturday morning after stirring up controversy for being part of a collection of holy figures created by artist Victoria-Maria Geyer to have no eyes, noses or mouths.
“An inclusive society is one that brings people together, and Christmas is the quintessential holiday that brings people together,” head of the center-right MR party Georges-Louis Bouchez posted on X. “However, these faceless figures resemble more of a homage to the zombies one might find near Brussels train stations than a nativity scene, and they in no way represent the spirit of Christmas.”
Bouchez launched a petition to have Geyer’s Nativity scene replaced. The “zombies” reference appears to be a reference to loiterers under the influence of drugs or other disorders.
The artist hoped the faceless figures would allow viewers to see themselves in the faces of those who witnessed the birth of Jesus Christ “regardless of their background or origins.” The nativity scene is expected to remain on display alongside a Christmas tree until Jan. 4, according to local media.
More than 4 million visitors went to the Christmas market in the center of Brussels’ historic old city in 2024.
With News Wire Services
