Author Archives: RF

News Eastern Europe Ukraine

Jewish View of Anti-Rroma Pogroms in the Ukraine

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Chilling read about the snit-Rroma Pogroms from August in the Ukraine. Read the views of some Ukrainian stating that the reasons behind the current pogrom and the ones 100 years ago against the Jews are the same: “they were not honest people” …

– In Ukraine, Jews witness historic echoes in pogroms against the Roma. In: Times of Israel. 23.09.2016. http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-ukraine-jews-witness-historic-echoes-in-pogroms-against-the-roma/ [link-preview url=”http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-ukraine-jews-witness-historic-echoes-in-pogroms-against-the-roma/”]

France News Western Europe

France: Forced Eviction Detrimental to Children

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The forced evictions of Rroma in France leave children vulnerable, not to mention interferes seriously with their schooling.

– Forced evictions leave Roma children vulnerable in France, say campaigners. In: Reuters. 20.09.2016. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-roma-idUSKCN11R00U [link-preview url=”http://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-roma-idUSKCN11R00U”]

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Czech Republic: I am not Racist – just everybody should be white …

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An article about the Rroma football club against whom no one wants to play, just because they are Rroma.
Racism is rampant in the Czech Republic.

– “WE’RE NOT RACIST, WE JUST DON’T LIKE GYPSIES” – MEET THE ROMANY FOOTBALL CLUB OTHER TEAMS REFUSE TO PLAY. In: Vice Sport. https://sports.vice.com/en_us/article/were-not-racist-we-just-dont-like-gypsies-meet-the-romany-football-club-other-teams-refuse-to-play [link-preview url=””]

News Switzerland

Switzerland: Criminal Complaint against Politician

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The main Rroma organisations from Switzerland, together with the Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker lodged a criminal complaint for racism against the Green Liberal politician Nathan Güntensperger from Bern. This politician made derogatory and generalising comments against all Rroma in a letter to a newspaper.
The bad thing is that the 20 Minutes paper added a poll to the article: The choices were: Do you agree with the criminal complaint? No, one is allowed to say what one thinks! And a last one which was worse. Interestingly, the poll has been changed, but not for the better. That is about conflicts with travellers …

– Anzeige gegen Grossrat nach Roma-Beleidigung. In: 20 Minutes (CH). 21.09.2016. http://www.20min.ch/schweiz/bern/story/Anzeige-gegen-Grossrat-nach-Roma-Beleidigung-31556612 [link-preview url=”http://www.20min.ch/schweiz/bern/story/Anzeige-gegen-Grossrat-nach-Roma-Beleidigung-31556612″]

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Not all that is called Gold in golden …

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A new musical opened up in Hungary. It is called Somnakaj – gold in Rromanes, and is a “Gypsy” musical. These types of things are not always positive, as they often tend to use the standard stereotypes that people have, thus reinforcing them …

– THE FATES AND THE CULTURE OF THE GYPSIES ON THE STAGE – SOMNAKAJ DEBUTS AT NATIONAL THEATER. In: Hungary Today. 20.09.2016. http://hungarytoday.hu/news/fates-culture-gypsies-stage-somnakaj-71743 [link-preview url=”http://hungarytoday.hu/news/fates-culture-gypsies-stage-somnakaj-71743″]

News Americas

More on the Rroma Invasion of California

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Seems that several Newspapers are catching on the migration of Rroma in California. From the articles, one could believe it is a real trend.
Well, they have probably more Rroma immigrants they don’t recognise as such (they don’t fit the stereotypes) than the ones which prompted these articles. If they only knew that there have been Rroma steelworkers and then automobile factory workers in the US since ages, among many other Rroma!

– Roma are now fleeing to California, US report says. In: New Europe. 20.09.2016. https://www.neweurope.eu/article/roma-now-fleeing-california-us-report-says/
– As Europe turns more hostile, Roma flee to California. In: Chicago Tribune. 19.09.2016. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-wp-blm-calif-roma-ff5528ca-7e5b-11e6-ad0e-ab0d12c779b1-20160919-story.html [link-preview url=”http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-wp-blm-calif-roma-ff5528ca-7e5b-11e6-ad0e-ab0d12c779b1-20160919-story.html”]

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Hungary: Rroma vs. Migrants

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This is fast becoming a farce… The Orban government is now betting on Rroma integration to resolve demographic problems.
The segregate, they discriminate, and now this.

– Orbán setzt auf Roma statt Migranten. In: Die Presse. 19.09.2016. http://diepresse.com/home/panorama/welt/5088101/Orban-setzt-auf-Roma-statt-Migranten [link-preview url=”http://diepresse.com/home/panorama/welt/5088101/Orban-setzt-auf-Roma-statt-Migranten”]

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Hungary Urged to End “Benevolent Segregation”

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What can be “benevolent” about segregation? This is simply segregation, and is practised enthusiastically in Hungary in villages, in schools, and wherever possible.
End these practices.

– Experts urge Hungary to end ‘benevolent segregation’ of Roma. In: Fox News. 19.09.2016. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/09/19/experts-urge-hungary-to-end-benevolent-segregation-roma.html
– Europe rights body demands Hungary end Roma segregation. In: The Standard. 19.09.2016. http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news.php?id=79721 [link-preview url=”http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/09/19/experts-urge-hungary-to-end-benevolent-segregation-roma.html
-“]

News Americas

Rroma Fleeing to California

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Now on Bloomberg … Rroma increasingly fleeing to California to escape European discrimination …

– Roma Gypsies Flee to California After Europe Turns More Hostile. In: Bloomberg. 19.09.2016. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-19/roma-gypsies-flee-to-california-as-europe-turns-more-hostile [link-preview url=”http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-19/roma-gypsies-flee-to-california-as-europe-turns-more-hostile”]

News Switzerland

Switzerland: Rroma feel Ignored by Berset

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Following the recognition of Jenische and Sinti by Alain Berset, Swiss Interior Minister, Rroma rightly feel excluded. Event though they number far more than Jenische and Sinti in Switzerland…
But then, in that country, Rroma is used as an almost synonym for foreigner.

– Schweizer Roma fühlen sich von Alain Berset ignoriert. In: Tages Anzeiger. 20.09.2016. http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/schweiz/standard/schweizer-roma-fuehlen-sich-von-alain-berset-ignoriert/story/21075063 [link-preview url=”http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/schweiz/standard/schweizer-roma-fuehlen-sich-von-alain-berset-ignoriert/story/21075063″]

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia: Online Mentoring

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A new project has been started in Slovakia aiming at mentoring gifted young Rroma children.These children all come from segregated Rroma settlements, right now in the region of Kosice.
GOOD!

– Rozbiehajú on-line mentoring Schopné deti. In: Korzar – Kosiče. 19.09.2016. http://kosice.korzar.sme.sk/c/20274810/rozbiehaju-on-line-mentoring-schopne-deti.html [link-preview url=”http://kosice.korzar.sme.sk/c/20274810/rozbiehaju-on-line-mentoring-schopne-deti.html”]

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

01.03.15 Slovakia: Police acquitted of all charges

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01.03.15 Slovakia: Police acquitted of all charges

Slovak police, who filmed their abuse of Rroma children in that country were acquitted of all charges, as their own videos taken from their own mobile phones was deemed to be illegally acquired evidence.

That the crime took place is not in doubt with the court, only the guilt of the police officers has not been “proven”. Crimes without culprits, especially when the police is involved is not uncommon. Unfortunately.

– Slovakia: Scandalous verdict acquits police of torturing Romani children. In: Romea.cz. 28.02.2015. http://www.romea.cz/…/slovakia-scandalous-verdict-acquits-p…

Croatia Czech Republic News Eastern Europe News Western Europe

22.05.15 The Final Solution of the Gypsy Question

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22.05.15 The Final Solution of the Gypsy Question

A theatre piece in Berlin, called “Zur Endlösung der Zigeunerfrage” – the final solution of the Rroma question – relates the murder of Rroma during the Nazi times. The collective behind the piece, composed of youngsters and scientists, have researched first hand accounts of Rroma and Sinti of that period and brought them to the stage. Questions on ethnicity, racial profiling are also raised in the piece.

A must, and a stark reminder that Rroma were murdered in scores by the Nazis during world war two. In some countries such as the Czech republic or in Croatia, the entire Rroma population was wiped out. In others, one estimate that 250 thousands to maybe a million or more were murdered in camps, but also simply shot on the spot.

– Dokumentartheater zur NS-Geschichte: Zur Endlösung der Täterfrage. In: TAZ. 20.02.2015. http://www.taz.de/Dokumentartheater-zur-NS-Geschichte/!155110/

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

22.02.15 A Slovak Film on a Rroma boxer in Slovakia

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22.02.15 A Slovak Film on a Rroma boxer in Slovakia

Koza – the goat – is a Slovak docu-movie on the life of a young Rroma boxer whose career peaked at the Olympic game but has since gone wrong. He lives in poverty with his girlfriend and daughter in a run down estate. The film related his life, but does not touch the subject of Rroma in Slovakia, a touchy subject.

– Simon, Alissa. Berlin Film Review: ‘Koza’. In: Variety. 11.02.2015.http://variety.com/…/re…/berlin-film-review-koza-1201434408/

News Eastern Europe

22.02.15 Rroma in Turkey and the AK Party

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Rroma in Turkey are increasingly the victims of the urban renewal that was started by Erdogan and the AK party. Several Rroma neighbourhoods in Istanbul, most notably Sulukule, one of the oldest Rroma settlement in Europe were dismantled since 2012. Rroma have been relocated far from the centre, and those who wanted to stay cannot afford the new rents. The house destruction programs were all parts of the urban renewal concepts, but have resulted in dismantling some of the last Rroma mahala from Istanbul.

– Urban transformation threatens unique Roma way of life. In: Sunday’s Zaman. 20.02.2015. http://www.todayszaman.com/national_urban-transformation-th…

France News Western Europe

22.02.15 The case of the dead child that could not be buried

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22.02.15 The case of the dead child that could not be buried

The case of the dead child that could not be buried in France after a mayor refused to sign the inhumation permit came to a close this week. The police had launched an investigation on the mayor’s actions following the reports of the case in the press. This investigation has now been closed without further actions. This in spite of the fact that prominent politicians like Toubon declared the mayor’s action to be clearly illegal.

– Refus d’inhumer un bébé rom en Essonne: L’enquête classée sans suite. In: 20 Minutes. 18.02.2015. http://www.20minutes.fr/…/1544115-20150218-refus-inhumer-be…

News Switzerland

22.02.15 Rroma, these unknown people whom we love to hate

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22.02.15 Rroma, these unknown people whom we love to hate

In Geneva, a theatre piece directed by Jérôme Richer questions the way we see Rroma. His show, oscillating between humour and seriousness serves many of the stereotypes on Rroma and their origins in the family and traditions. However, the actor and director mixes several topics in his presentation, speaking about travellers, speaking about Jenische, and the resulting picture, while coming from good intentions, misses the point. Rroma are clearly not as the gadže see them…

– Genecand, Marie-Pierre. Les Roms, ces inconnus qu’on adore détester. In: Le Temps. 19.02.2015. http://www.letemps.ch/…/Les_Roms_ces_inconnus_quon_adore_dé…

News Eastern Europe Romania

22.02.15 Romanian Rroma and Exclusion

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22.02.15 Romanian Rroma and Exclusion

The Economist reports on a wall that was erected in the Romanian city of Baia Mare around one of its Rroma settlements. The economist cites poverty, segregation, education as some of the biggest hurdles faced by Rroma in Romania. Interviewing the town’s mayor, he reports that there is nothing discriminatory in the wall and states that the commune is investing in desegregated housing, and that one of the building in the settlement will anyhow be renovated, with its inhabitants being re-located. A NGO helping Rroma integration is blunter: People like the wall, and there is “latent racism” against Rroma.

– Romania’s Roma: The art of exclusion. In: The Economist. 20.02.2015.http://www.economist.com/…/21644532-wall-segregated-towns-r…

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe News Western Europe Romania

22.02.15 A documentary on Rroma in Toulouse

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22.02.15 A documentary on Rroma in Toulouse

A young filmmaker Sahra Denard is currently making a documentary on Rroma migrants in the city of Toulouse. She is working with three Romanian sisters who live in an camp and will go with them in Romania, in their village of origin.

While the filmmaker wants to reduce stereotypes, the choice of subject contributes to re-enforce the general views on Rroma; Migrants from Romania or Bulgaria, poor, uneducated etc. On such a topic, the line between helping and damaging Rroma is a thin one to walk.

– Sarah Denard, un documentaire sur les Roms. In: La Dépèche. 19.02.2015. http://www.ladepeche.fr/…/2052220-sarah-denard-un-documenta…

News Western Europe

15.02.2015 Exhibition on Rroma in Vienna

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A new exhibition in Vienna called “Romane Thana” or Rroma places presents the culture of the Rroma. The exhibition presents pictures, documents, sound material. Klaus-Michael Bogdal, authors of the book “Europa erfindet die Zigeuner” is also present at this exhibition.

Pity that the article, as well as Bogdal and the exhibition itself perpetuates the view that Rroma only arrived in the late middle ages in Europe. For some reason, in the eyes of Westerners, the Byzantine Empire never seems to have existed, much less to have been in Europe …

– Wien-Museum: Das Leben der Roma und Sinti. In: Die Presse.com.12.02.2015. http://diepresse.com/…/WienMuseum_Das-Leben-der-Roma-und-Si…
– Wien Museum zeigt Orte der Roma und Sinti. In: Heute.at. 10.02.2015.http://www.heute.at/freizeit/kultur/art23668,1124806

A new exhibition in Vienna called “Romane Thana” or Rroma places presents the culture of the Rroma. The exhibition presents pictures, documents, sound material. Klaus-Michael Bogdal, authors of the book “Europa erfindet die Zigeuner” is also present at this exhibition.

Pity that the article, as well as Bogdal and the exhibition itself perpetuates the view that Rroma only arrived in the late middle ages in Europe. For some reason, in the eyes of Westerners, the Byzantine Empire never seems to have existed, much less to have been in Europe …

– Wien-Museum: Das Leben der Roma und Sinti. In: Die Presse.com.12.02.2015. http://diepresse.com/…/WienMuseum_Das-Leben-der-Roma-und-Si…
– Wien Museum zeigt Orte der Roma und Sinti. In: Heute.at. 10.02.2015.http://www.heute.at/freizeit/kultur/art23668,1124806

 A new exhibition in Vienna called “Romane Thana” or Rroma places presents the culture of the Rroma. The exhibition presents pictures, documents, sound material. Klaus-Michael Bogdal, authors of the book “Europa erfindet die Zigeuner” is also present at this exhibition.

Pity that the article, as well as Bogdal and the exhibition itself perpetuates the view that Rroma only arrived in the late middle ages in Europe. For some reason, in the eyes of Westerners, the Byzantine Empire never seems to have existed, much less to have been in Europe …

– Wien-Museum: Das Leben der Roma und Sinti. In: Die Presse.com.12.02.2015. http://diepresse.com/…/WienMuseum_Das-Leben-der-Roma-und-Si…
– Wien Museum zeigt Orte der Roma und Sinti. In: Heute.at. 10.02.2015.http://www.heute.at/freizeit/kultur/art23668,1124806

 

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