The next seminar in Romani Studies with Profs. Elena Marushiakova and Vesselin Popov.
https://romanistudies.ch/seminar-series/2025-2026/26-november-2025/
Romani Studies
Category Archives: Europe
Award
Elena Marushiakova and Veselin Popov have received the award from the Gypsy Lore Society for the best book in 2024 on Romani Studies. The book reflects on Soviet repression against Roma under Stalin.
- PRESTIGIOUS AWARD “BEST BOOK IN ROMANI STUDIES 2024” FOR ELENA MARUSHIAKOVA AND VESELIN POPOV FROM THE INSTITUTE OF ETHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE SAS. In: SAV. 06.11.2025. https://www.sav.sk/index.php?lang=en&doc=services-news&source_no=20&news_no=13178
Georges Soros and Roma
Georges Soros was awarded the European Civil Prize for his work for Roma.
Well done.
His son Alex Soros received the prize onhis behalf at a ceremony in Berlin.
- Alex Soros on the European Civil Rights Prize of the Sinti and Roma. In: Open Society Foundations. 23.10.2025. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/newsroom/alex-soros-on-the-european-civil-rights-prize-of-the-sinti-and-roma
- George Soros receives prize for work on Roma, Sinti rights. In: Deutsche Welle. 23.10.2025. https://www.dw.com/en/george-soros-receives-prize-for-work-on-roma-sinti-rights/a-74473518
Really?
Quite a buzz because of a Bulgarian romani video on Instagram that highlight the commonality of Romanes, Hindi, and Urdu.
Ever heard about Sanskrit and Prakrit?
- ‘This Is Incredible’: DYK Romani Language Sounds Surprisingly Similar To Hindi And Urdu? In: News 18. 22.10.2025. https://www.news18.com/viral/this-is-incredible-dyk-romani-language-sounds-surprisingly-similar-to-hindi-and-urdu-9651137.html
- Romani gypsy language’s striking similarity to Hindi and Urdu stuns internet. In: Hindustan Times. 22.10.2025. https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/romani-gypsy-language-s-striking-similarity-to-hindi-and-urdu-stuns-internet-101761091287706.html
Roma Jubilee in Rome
Many articles about the Jubilee of Sinti, Roma, and Travellers in Rome.
- Leo XIV to Roma, Sinti and Caminanti: “Remind humanity of the paradigm of Christian life. In: Prime Asia News. 18.10.2025. https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Leo-XIV-to-Roma,-Sinti-and-Caminanti:-“Remind-humanity-of-the-paradigm-of-Christian-life”-64099.html#google_vignette
- Leone XIV: “La dignità del lavoro e della preghiera siano la vostra forza”. In: Terris. 18.10.2025. https://www.interris.it/chiesa-cattolica/leone-xiv-la-dignita-del-lavoro-e-della-preghiera-siano-la-vostra-forza
- Pastoral dos Ciganos: «Sejam protagonistas da mudança de época em curso», «superando a desconfiança mútua, dando a conhecer a beleza da vossa cultura» – Leão XIV. In: ecclesia. 18.10.2025. https://agencia.ecclesia.pt/portal/pastoral-dos-ciganos-sejam-protagonistas-da-mudanca-de-epoca-em-curso-superando-a-desconfianca-mutua-dando-a-conhecer-a-beleza-da-vossa-cultura-leao-xiv/
- Papa Leone XIV ai Rom, Sinti e Camminanti: “siete stati puntualmente scartati. Ma aiutate a costruire la pace testimoniando una convivenza più giusta, in armonia con Dio, con il creato e con gli altri” (S.C.). In; Faro di Roma. 18.10.2025. https://www.farodiroma.it/papa-leone-xiv-ai-rom-sinti-e-camminanti-siete-stati-puntualmente-scartati-ma-aiutate-a-costruire-la-pace-testimoniando-una-convivenza-piu-giusta-in-armonia-con-dio-con-il-creato-e-con-g/
Roma Jubilee in Rome
Many news about the Jubilee for Sinti, Roma, and Travellers in Roma. Here a video.
Urban Segregation and the Making of Roma Marginality in Türkiye: The Case of Urla
Dr. Uştuk will present his ethnographic research of the Roma community in Urla, a town near Izmir. The talk will begin with a brief overview of the evolution of Romani Studies in Türkiye, situating the emergence of the field within the broader political transformations prompted by EU accession processes and the Roma civil society movement. Against this contextual background, an ethnographic case study from Urla, İzmir region, demonstrates how gentrification policies led to an “exile strategy” against the Roma community, framing them as the “unwanted others.” The research indicates that structural exclusion operates simultaneously through policy frameworks and everyday narratives of blame, sustaining a long-lasting politics of exclusion.
One can register for this conference.
- https://romanistudies.ch/seminar-series/2025-2026/29-october-2025/
Movie on Hate
As part of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODHIR) conference in Warsaw on October 13 focusing on Roma human rights the screening of the movie That Boy follows the journey of Toby, a former Roma refugee, and Mirek, a former neo-Nazi, as they confront the roots of hate and explore the possibilities of dialogue and reconciliation. It revisits the largely untold story of anti-Roma violence that spread across parts of Central and Eastern Europe in the 1990s.
- Movie on hate and healing in focus of Roma and Sinti event in Warsaw. In: OSCE. 13.10.2025. https://www.osce.org/odihr/599187
Warsaw Conference
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODHIR) organised a conference in Warsaw on October 13 focusing on Roma human rights.
Ðorđe Jovanović, President of the European Roma Rights Centre, said that ”Sustained funding for human rights monitoring, advocacy and litigation must be urgently restored, along with institutional funding allowing Roma human rights organizations to function and operate independently,” and added that “Donors need to remove bureaucratic barriers and support civil society in protecting rights and holding institutions to account.”
- Roma and Sinti human rights in focus at Warsaw conference. In: OSCE. 13.10.2025. https://www.osce.org/odihr/599184
Georges Soros and Roma
The Central Council of German Sinti and Roma is awarding this year’s European Civil Rights Prize to George Soros (95). The US founder, investor, and philanthropist is being honored for his decades-long international commitment to Sinti and Roma, the association announced in Heidelberg on Tuesday. The award is also intended to draw attention to the dangers of growing antigypsyism, which is once again manifesting itself in Germany and many European countries through violence against the minority by nationalists and right-wing extremists.
- Europäischer Bürgerrechtspreis der Sinti und Roma für George Soros. In: Evangelische Zeitung. 30.09.2025. https://evangelische-zeitung.de/europaeischer-buergerrechtspreis-der-sinti-und-roma-fuer-george-soros
Kosovo Trial
Paul Williams, who provided pro bono legal assistance to the Kosovo delegation in Rambouillet, stated that during the Vienna process and the drafting of the Constitution, Jakup Krasniqi played a positive role regarding the role of minorities in Kosovo, particularly Serbs and Roma.
Well, what was positive in the expulsion of most Roma from Kosovo? This was ethnic cleansing.
- Williams affirme que Jakup Krasniqi a joué un rôle positif concernant le rôle des minorités roms et serbes au Kosovo. In: Koha. 17.09.2025. https://www.koha.net/fr/arberi/williams-pohon-se-jakup-krasniqi-pati-rol-pozitiv-lidhur-me-rolin-e-pakicave-rome-dhe-serbe-ne-kosove
An Omission?
During the August 2nd commemoration of the genocide of the Roma during the Holocaust in Auschwitz, Romani Rose, chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma gave a speech in German in which he not only spoke about the genocide of the Roma but also of human right violations, and he specifically mentioned children starving in Gaza.
The issue: the Gaza mention was not translated in English, Polish, or Czech according to the people we spoke to right after the ceremony in Auschwitz.
- Why did interpreters of Auschwitz ceremony on 2 August fail to say the word “Gaza” when the chair of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma raised starvation there? In: Romea. 05.08.2025. https://romea.cz/en/opinion/why-did-interpreters-of-auschwitz-ceremony-on-2-august-fail-to-say-the-word-gaza-when-the-chair-of-the-central-council-of-german-sinti-and-roma-raised-starvation-there
Ceija Stoika
A reportage on Arte on Ceija Stoika and her paintings.
- Ceija Stojka : icône de l’art des Sintis et des Roms. In: Arte. 09.08.2025. https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/128332-000-A/ceija-stojka-icone-de-l-art-des-sintis-et-des-roms/
The European Commission
The European Commission on the genocide of the Roma during the Holocaust.
- European Commission commemorates Roma Holocaust Memorial Day. In: Brussels Times. 02.08.2025. https://www.brusselstimes.com/eu-affairs/1688655/1688655
IHRA: Michaela Küchler
The secretary general of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance on the Genocide of the Roma during the Holocaust and the need to remember.
- Michaela Küchler on nearly forgotten concentration camp and need to remember genocide of the Roma. In: Radio Prague International. 02.08.2025. https://english.radio.cz/michaela-kuchler-nearly-forgotten-concentration-camp-and-need-remember-genocide-8858577
Council of Europe: Statement
For the August 2nd commemoration of the Genocide of the Roma during the Holocaust, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the CoE issued a statement.
- European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day: investing in memorialisation and supporting communities are crucial to building more inclusive societies. In: Council of Europe. 02ю08ю2025ю https://www.coe.int/ca/web/commissioner/-/european-roma-holocaust-memorial-day-investing-in-memorialisation-and-supporting-communities-are-crucial-to-building-more-inclusive-societies
Thaci in the Hague
Former KLA leader Hashim Thaci will begin his defense against charges of war crimes committed in Kosovo and Albania between 1995 and 1998 before the Special Tribunal in The Hague on September 9, the tribunal announced.
Alongside Thaci, Kadri Veselji, Redžep Seljimi, and Jakup Krasnići were charged with crimes against Albanians, declared “collaborators,” Serbs, and Roma, in more than 40 cases held by the KLA. All the defendants were leading members of the KLA Main Staff and the self-proclaimed Provisional Government of Kosovo.
- Le 15 septembre, Thaci commence sa défense à La Haye contre les accusations de crimes de guerre au Kosovo et en Albanie. In: Kossev Info. 25.0-7.2025. https://kossev.info/fr/taci-u-hagu-15-septembra-pocinje-odbranu-od-optuzbi-za-ratne-zlocine-na-kosovu-i-u-albaniji/
Arte Documentary
An Arte Documentary on Roma. Worth seeing it.
Roma in Europe
The dialogue between the Roma Foundation for Europe network and the newly elected President of Romania, Mr. Nicușor Dan, marked a historic moment, one in which the Roma community is not seen as an object of aid, but as an equal partner in building a European future. The delegation of Roma representatives was led by Željko Jovanović, Director of the Roma Foundation for Europe, a leader whose work has been pushing the boundaries of what is possible for decades when it comes to rights, security and dignity.
- Evropa se ne može zamisliti bez Roma: Romski lideri u istorijskom dijalogu sa predsednikom Rumunije. In: Naslovi. 11.07.2025. https://naslovi.net/2025-07-11/rominfomedia/evropa-se-ne-moze-zamisliti-bez-roma-romski-lideri-u-istorijskom-dijalogu-sa-predsednikom-rumunije/40051631
Roma Festivals …
An editorial one can only agree with. There is a multiplication of events called “Roma festivals”. This article focuses on the ones created in Slovakia, but this is a phenomenon that exists across Europe. Quality, impact, and meaningfulness are seldom discussed. We have basic folklore, unfortunately pandering to the usual stereotypes.
- Romské festivaly na Slovensku na rozcestí: Potřebujeme vizi místo pouhého počtu, kvalitu místo kvantity a nový model veřejné podpory kultury menšin. In: Romea. 11.07.2025. https://romea.cz/cz/kultura/romske-festivaly-na-slovensku-na-rozcesti-potrebujeme-vizi-misto-pouheho-poctu-kvalitu-misto-kvantity-a-novy-model-verejne-podpory-kultury-mensin#google_vignette
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