An article about the worsening situation of Roma in Bulgaria and about the increasing racism against them in a country where there was little if any 20 years ago.
– ‘Free Abortion’ Talk No Real Surprise To Bulgaria’s Roma. In: Radio Free Europe. 21.02.2019. https://www.rferl.org/a/free-abortion-talk-no-real-surprise-to-bulgarias-roma/29782385.html [link-preview url=”https://www.rferl.org/a/free-abortion-talk-no-real-surprise-to-bulgarias-roma/29782385.html”]
An article on the policies of forced evictions of Roma and of collective punishment in Bulgaria.
Bad.
– Forced Evictions, Discrimination Continue to Afflict Bulgaria’s Roma. In: Voice of America. 13.02.2019. https://www.voanews.com/a/forced-evictions-discrimination-continue-to-afflict-bulgaria-s-roma-minority/4784655.html
– Forced evictions, discrimination continue to afflict Bulgaria’s Roma minority. In: Reuters. 10.02.2019. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bulgaria-roma-housing-feature/forced-evictions-discrimination-continue-to-afflict-bulgarias-roma-minority-idUSKCN1Q202O [link-preview url=”https://www.voanews.com/a/forced-evictions-discrimination-continue-to-afflict-bulgaria-s-roma-minority/4784655.html “]
More on the controversial proposal of Roma Integration presented by the deputy prime minister. He also proposes free abortions to Roma women …
No comments …
– Bulgaria’s deputy PM proposes free abortions for Roma women to control birth rate. In: Daily Sabah. 08.02.2019. https://www.dailysabah.com/europe/2019/02/08/bulgarias-deputy-pm-proposes-free-abortions-for-roma-women-to-control-birth-rate [link-preview url=”https://www.dailysabah.com/europe/2019/02/08/bulgarias-deputy-pm-proposes-free-abortions-for-roma-women-to-control-birth-rate”]
Bulgarian nationalists have presented a “Roma Integration Plan” which foresees cutting welfare and destroying “illegal” housing.
Really? And this in the EU?
– Bulgarian Nationalists’ Roma ‘Integration’ Plan Dismays Rights Advocates. In: Balkan Insight. 07.02.2019. http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bulgarian-nationalists-issue-controversial-roma-integration-plan-02-07-2019 [link-preview url=”http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bulgarian-nationalists-issue-controversial-roma-integration-plan-02-07-2019″]
A recapitulation of the facts that led to a collective punishment of Roma in Plovdiv and later to a manifestation.
Scary.
– Bulgaria’s Voyvodinovo saga: Karakachanov, ‘impudent gypsies’ and the voices of concern. In: Sofia Globe. 14.01.2019. https://sofiaglobe.com/2019/01/14/bulgarias-voyvodinovo-saga-karakachanov-impudent-gypsies-and-the-voices-of-concern/?fbclid=IwAR3WoJBB8-hn7Mufc3zec0C9q-uKCtWNWAEX1foAx49bdChK0RI4yIkNYSg [link-preview url=”https://sofiaglobe.com/2019/01/14/bulgarias-voyvodinovo-saga-karakachanov-impudent-gypsies-and-the-voices-of-concern/?fbclid=IwAR3WoJBB8-hn7Mufc3zec0C9q-uKCtWNWAEX1foAx49bdChK0RI4yIkNYSg”]
A report on the arrest of 6 people in Bulgaria for their involvement in a terrorist network. So far – nothing special. But then, the small sentence about the rise of “radical Islam” among the Roma community.
This has nothing to do with the arrests – but puts squarely the Roma in the focus.
Bad journalism.
– Bulgarie: six inculpés pour financement d’un puissant réseau terroriste. In: I24 Europe. 19.01.2019. https://www.i24news.tv/fr/actu/international/europe/193530-190119-bulgarie-six-inculpes-pour-financement-d-un-puissant-reseau-terroriste [link-preview url=”https://www.i24news.tv/fr/actu/international/europe/193530-190119-bulgarie-six-inculpes-pour-financement-d-un-puissant-reseau-terroriste”]
An attack by two Roma initiated a cycle of violence against the community, including the demolition of a Roma neighbourhood in the village of Voyvodinovo near Plovdiv. 200 people demonstrated in Sofia on 14 January against this collective punishment. They demanded the resignation of Defense Minister Krasimir Karakachanov – who ordered the demolition – for his “hate speech”.
– BULGARIE : CHRONIQUE DE LA VIOLENCE ANTI-ROMS ORDINAIRE. In: Le Courrier des Balkans. 18.01.2019. https://www.courrierdesbalkans.fr/Bulgarie-chronique-de-la-violence-anti-roms-ordinaire [link-preview url=”https://www.courrierdesbalkans.fr/Bulgarie-chronique-de-la-violence-anti-roms-ordinaire”]
The nationalist Bulgarian politician Valeri Simeonov was acquitted of charges of hate speech against Roma by Bulgaria’s supreme court. On December 17th, 2014, Simeonov told the House that “part of this (Roma) ethnicity” had become “arrogant, presumptuous and ferocious humanoids, ready to kill in order to steal a few leva”.
BAD!
– Bulgaria supreme court acquits Valeri Simeonov on anti-Roma hate speech charge. In: The Sofia Globe. 18.01.2019. https://sofiaglobe.com/2019/01/18/bulgaria-supreme-court-acquits-valeri-simeonov-on-anti-roma-hate-speech-charge/ [link-preview url=”https://sofiaglobe.com/2019/01/18/bulgaria-supreme-court-acquits-valeri-simeonov-on-anti-roma-hate-speech-charge/”]
Austria condemned a publisher of an Online portal for racism following an article on the rape of a woman by a group of youngsters who were from Bulgaria and suggesting that they might have been Roma because there are many of them in Bulgaria.
– Presserat: Artikel auf “zurzeit.eu” diskriminiert Roma und Sinti. In: Der Standard. 15.01.2019. https://derstandard.at/2000096265133/Presserat-Artikel-auf-zurzeiteu-diskriminiert-Roma-und-Sinti
– Artikel auf „zurzeit.eu“ diskriminiert Roma und Sinti. In: OTS. 15.01.2019. https://www.ots.at/presseaussendung/OTS_20190115_OTS0086/artikel-auf-zurzeiteu-diskriminiert-roma-und-sinti [link-preview url=”https://derstandard.at/2000096265133/Presserat-Artikel-auf-zurzeiteu-diskriminiert-Roma-und-Sinti “]
Hundreds of Roma protested yesterday in Sofia demanding the resignation of the prime minister following the destruction of a Roma settlement in Plovdiv and racist comments from the prime minister, who, for example, said that “the Gypsies have become extremely insolent”.
– Yesterday Hundreds of Roma People Demanded the Resignation of Deputy PM with a Protest in Sofia. In: Novinite. 15.01.2019. https://www.novinite.com/articles/194495/Yesterday+Hundreds+of+Roma+People+Demanded+the+Resignation+of+Deputy+PM+with+a+Protest+in+Sofia [link-preview url=”https://www.novinite.com/articles/194495/Yesterday+Hundreds+of+Roma+People+Demanded+the+Resignation+of+Deputy+PM+with+a+Protest+in+Sofia”]
The Bulgarian state is doling out collective punishment to Roma following an altercation between a Rom and a soldier.
– https://www.facebook.com/Antifascist.BG/videos/348601499292615/ [link-preview url=”https://www.facebook.com/Antifascist.BG/videos/348601499292615/”]
Sofia is extremely polluted, due to its increasing urbanisation, the switch to individual heating vs. the old centralised socialist system, and too many cars.
But according to the press, the real cause are the Roma … Because they drive old cars and heat with wood.
It is always easier to have someone else to blame.
– BULGARIE : POLLUTION DE L’AIR À SOFIA, C’EST LA FAUTE AUX PAUVRES ! In: Le Courrier des Balkans. https://www.courrierdesbalkans.fr/bulgarie-sofia-pollution-air-voiture-chauffage [link-preview url=”https://www.courrierdesbalkans.fr/bulgarie-sofia-pollution-air-voiture-chauffage”]
Bulgaria significantly increased state funding for religions, including Islam, in an attempt to prevent radical Islam. The bad point here is that the Roma are mentioned in the same sentence together with radical Islam. And while many Roma are Moslems, up till now they haven’t radicalised at all. Anyhow, best weapon against this is integration …
– La Bulgarie légifère pour mieux contrôler l’islam radical. In: i24 Europe. 21.12.2018. https://www.i24news.tv/fr/actu/international/europe/191452-181221-la-bulgarie-legifere-pour-mieux-controler-l-islam-radical [link-preview url=”https://www.i24news.tv/fr/actu/international/europe/191452-181221-la-bulgarie-legifere-pour-mieux-controler-l-islam-radical”]
The extreme right and anti-Roma Bulgarian MP Angel Dzhambaski was arrested at Sofia’s airport with a weapon…
– Bulgarian MEP Angel Dzhambazki was Detained with Weapon at Sofia Airport. In: Novinite. 27.11.2018. https://www.novinite.com/articles/193517/Bulgarian+MEP+Angel+Dzhambazki+was+Detained+with+Weapon+at+Sofia+Airport?fbclid=IwAR2PxLlRkP7d7lvxC0x2QdfsSrjGlRuyiUB2QRFCiQYggFVedQpVbAfbIR0 [link-preview url=”https://www.novinite.com/articles/193517/Bulgarian+MEP+Angel+Dzhambazki+was+Detained+with+Weapon+at+Sofia+Airport?fbclid=IwAR2PxLlRkP7d7lvxC0x2QdfsSrjGlRuyiUB2QRFCiQYggFVedQpVbAfbIR0″]
Mothers of handicapped children have been manifesting in Bulgaria to complain about the help they get and about the minister in charge, Mr. Simeonov who said disparaging things about Roma suggesting among others that they created the handicaps so as to get money from the state.
He should be fired.
– Bulgarie : des mères d’enfants handicapés contre le pouvoir. In: Handicap. https://informations.handicap.fr/art-bulgarie-mamans-enfants-handicap-Simeonov-63-11306.php [link-preview url=”https://informations.handicap.fr/art-bulgarie-mamans-enfants-handicap-Simeonov-63-11306.php”]
Two articles on the situation of Roma in Bulgaria. They somewhat miss the point – Integration was quite extensive in Bulgaria, the situation deteriorated after the fall of communism and with the rise of nationalism…
– LES ROMS DE BULGARIE : DES CITOYENS EUROPÉENS QUI VIVENT DANS DES GHETTOS. In: Taurillion. 29.10.2018. https://www.taurillon.org/les-roms-de-bulgarie-des-citoyens-europeens-qui-vivent-dans-des-ghettos
– L’INTÉGRATION DES ROMS DE BULGARIE EN 15 ANS : « C’EST POSSIBLE » ! In: Taurillion. 30.10.2018. https://www.taurillon.org/l-integration-des-roms-de-bulgarie-en-15-ans-c-est-possible [link-preview url=”https://www.taurillon.org/les-roms-de-bulgarie-des-citoyens-europeens-qui-vivent-dans-des-ghettos “]
Bad news from the North Eastern Bulgarian town of Sliven indicating the tense relations between Roma and authorities.
Bad.
– Nine detained for assaulting police officers in Roma neighbourhood. In: Focus News Agency. 19.10.2018. http://www.focus-fen.net/news/2018/10/19/435192/nine-detained-for-assaulting-police-officers-in-roma-neighbourhood.html [link-preview url=”http://www.focus-fen.net/news/2018/10/19/435192/nine-detained-for-assaulting-police-officers-in-roma-neighbourhood.html”]
The city of Plovdiv has started destroying “illegal” Roma houses in the Mahala of Sheker.
Bad.
– Demolition of illegal Roma homes in Plovdiv began amid heavy police presence. In: Focus. 17.10.2018. http://www.focus-fen.net/news/2018/10/17/435146/demolition-of-illegal-roma-homes-in-plovdiv-began-amid-heavy-police-presence.html [link-preview url=”http://www.focus-fen.net/news/2018/10/17/435146/demolition-of-illegal-roma-homes-in-plovdiv-began-amid-heavy-police-presence.html”]
The rape and murder of Viktoria Marinova, a journalist took yet another turn after it was reported that the suspect, a Bulgarian arrested in Germany, is apparently a Rom.
This was immediately seized by right wing politicians who anyhow speak about “Roma Terror”…
Bad.
– Marinova murder grist to mill of Bulgaria’s far-right politicians. In: The Sofia Globe. https://sofiaglobe.com/2018/10/12/marinova-murder-grist-to-mill-of-bulgarias-far-right-politicians/ [link-preview url=”https://sofiaglobe.com/2018/10/12/marinova-murder-grist-to-mill-of-bulgarias-far-right-politicians/”]
An article on the education of Roma in Bulgaria and the de-facto segregation of schooling – with disastrous results.
– Wenn Bildung zur Sackgasse wird. In: Deutschlandfunk. 08.10.2018. https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/bulgarische-schulen-fuer-roma-wenn-bildung-zur-sackgasse.795.de.html?dram:article_id=429956 [link-preview url=”https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/bulgarische-schulen-fuer-roma-wenn-bildung-zur-sackgasse.795.de.html?dram:article_id=429956″]
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