A statue of baby Jesus, described as resembling a “zombie” by a member of Belgium’s conservative ruling party, has mysteriously vanished from a Christmas Nativity scene over the weekend.

The disappearance has puzzled Belgian officials, as the mannequin of Jesus was taken from its place in a Nativity display at Brussels’ historic Grand Place.

The statue is believed to have been removed sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning. This incident follows controversy surrounding the collection of holy figures, designed by artist Victoria-Maria Geyer, which are notable for lacking facial features such as eyes, noses, or mouths.

Georges-Louis Bouchez, leader of the center-right MR party, expressed his dissatisfaction on social media platform X, stating, “An inclusive society should unite people, and Christmas is the ultimate unifying holiday. However, these faceless figures look more like a tribute to zombies found near Brussels train stations than a true Nativity scene, failing to capture the essence of Christmas.”

In response, Bouchez initiated a petition advocating for the replacement of Geyer’s Nativity scene. His reference to “zombies” appears to allude to individuals loitering near train stations, often under the influence of substances or coping with other challenges.

The artist, Geyer, intended for the faceless figures to encourage people to envision themselves as part of the scene, regardless of their background or origin. The Nativity scene is set to remain on display, alongside a Christmas tree, until January 4, according to local reports.

More than 4 million visitors went to the Christmas market in the center of Brussels’ historic old city in 2024.

With News Wire Services