A new documentary was published inb Croatia on the genocide of the Roma during the Nazi Era. Worth watching.
On the Genocide of Roma
Category Archives: Croatia
Roma Street Music
Still more articles on the interdiction of Roma street musicians in some Croatian cities. From Osijek to Sinj, police and local authorities have taken action to expel Roma musicians from public spaces during the holiday season. Is this, as Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković insists, just a communal problem (which is being solved quite selectively) or a new front in the culture wars that we have apparently brought into the new year, analised with sociologist Krešimir Krol.
- Romski trubači, najnovije žrtve kulturnih ratova: ‘Ako je Tiha noć, pišite kazne za petarde pred crkvama’. In: TPortal. 03.01.2026. https://www.tportal.hr/kultura/clanak/romski-trubaci-najnovije-zrtve-kulturnih-ratova-ako-je-tiha-noc-pisite-kazne-za-petarde-pred-crkvama-20260103?meta_refresh=1
Street Musicians and Politics
Veljko Kajtazi, the president of the Kali Sara Roma Organisation, reacted to the incident that took place on Christmas Eve in Sinj, where Roma trumpeters were removed from the city square after Mayor Miro Bulj stated that their music was not appropriate for the Christmas atmosphere. Kajtazi said that he believed that Bulj had no intention of insulting the Roma community, but he stressed that it is important to remind people of the fact that Roma are part of Croatian society and its tradition.
“The Roma in Croatia are mostly Catholics, regularly participate in religious life and make pilgrimages to Marian shrines, especially in Marija Bistrica. They also made a significant contribution to the Homeland War,” Kajtazi emphasized.
Speaking about music, he added that Roma musicians have a rich repertoire and that, in addition to traditional Roma songs, they also perform Christmas songs. “My Roma can play ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Ederlezi’, especially when they are hired,” he said.
- Kajtazi: „Moji Romi znaju svirati i ‘Jingle Bells’ i ‘Ederlezi’, osobito kada ih se angažira“. In: Reporter. 28.12.2025. https://reporter.hr/kajtazi-moji-romi-znaju-svirati-i-jingle-bells-i-ederlezi-osobito-kada-ih-se-angazira/#google_vignette
Street Music in Croatia
While in European cities street music is considered part of urban culture and a meeting of different traditions, the debate about banning Roma musicians has reopened in Croatia. In a statement to the Novosti portal, the President of the Roma Association in the Republic of Croatia Suzana Krčmar warns that this does not only call into question playing on the street, but also the acceptance of cultural diversity. She raises the question of whether the ban applies to all street musicians or only to Roma, since foreign and domestic popular music is performed without any problems in the cities.
The article continues by saying that Suzana Krčmar avoided emphasizing that the Roma who played or tried to play in Croatian cities are citizens of Serbia.
Bad.
- NOVOSTI STALE U OBRANU ROMSKIH TRUBAČA PREDSJEDNICA SAVEZA ROMA U RH SUZANA KRČMAR IZNIJELA GOMILU NEISTINITIH TVRDNJI I OPTUŽBI. In: Hrvatski Glasnik. 29.12.2025. https://hrvatski-glasnik.com/izdvojeno/novosti-stale-u-obranu-romskih-trubaca-predsjednica-saveza-roma-u-rh-suzana-krcmar-iznijela-gomilu-neistinitih-tvrdnji-i-optuzbi/2025/12/29/138125/
Roma, Music, and a Mayor
A huge number of articles in the Croatian press about the mayor of the town of Sinj, Miro Bulj who removed removed the Roma orchestra from the public space on Christmas Eve, even though they played the since years at Christmas. The mayor explained that they were singing “Đurđevdan”, and that it was inappropriate for Christmas Eve, and that anyhow, they were not authorised to play in public. A video contradict this, as it shows him gesturing towards the musicians to leave.
Prior to that, the orchestra played among the gathered citizens, without any visible incident.
Well, depending how you pronounce this mayor’s name, it means an ass in Romanes.
- Drama se nastavlja, romski orkestar: ‘Nismo pjevali Đurđevdan, gradonačelnik laže‘; Miro Bulj: ‘Imam svjedoke…‘ In: Slobodna Dalmacija. 25.12.2025. https://slobodnadalmacija.hr/split-i-zupanija/zagora/drama-se-nastavlja-romski-orkestar-nismo-pjevali-durdevdan-gradonacelnik-laze-miro-bulj-imam-svjedoke-1527162
- Bulj potjerao romski orkestar iz Sinja: “Pjevanje te pjesme nije primjereno”. In: Dnevnik. 24.12.2025. https://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/bulj-potjerao-romski-orkestar-s-ulica-grada-pjevanje-te-pjesme-nije-primjereno—953988.html#google_vignette
- Bulj otjerao romski orkestar iz centra Sinja: ‘Đurđevdan nije primjeren za ovaj dan’. In: Večernji list. 24.12.2025. https://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/bulj-otjerao-romski-orkestar-iz-centra-sinja-durdevdan-nije-primjeren-za-ovaj-dan-1919065
- Bulj potjerao romski orkestar u Sinju: “Pjevanje Đurđevdana danas nije primjereno”. In: Index. 24.12.2025. https://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/bulj-potjerao-romski-orkestar-u-sinju-neka-postuju-badnjak/2743817.aspx
- VIDEO Bulj u Sinju rastjerao romski orkestar, u Zagrebu slobodno sviraju: Evo kakva su pravila u Ljubljani. In: TPortal. 25.12.2025. https://www.tportal.hr/vijesti/clanak/video-bulj-u-sinju-rastjerao-romski-orkestar-u-zagrebu-slobodno-sviraju-evo-kakva-su-pravila-u-ljubljani-20251225?meta_refresh=1
- Miro Bulj potjerao romski orkestar iz Sinja, članovi tvrde: ‘Gradonačelnik laže’. In: Dnevno. 25.12.2025. https://www.dnevno.hr/magazin/miro-bulj-potjerao-romski-orkestar-iz-sinja-clanovi-tvrde-gradonacelnik-laze-3165988/
Theatre
TeatarR, the first and only Roma theatre in Croatia, is visiting Sisak with the play “Prison Flowers” directed by Zvjezdana Bubnjar. After the premiere in Zagreb at the end of November this year, the Sisak audience will have the opportunity to see it on Sunday, December 21, 2025 at 7 p.m. at Theatre 21.
- “Zatvorsko cvijeće” u Kazalištu 21. In: Sisak Portal. 19.12.2025. https://sisakportal.hr/kultura/zatvorsko-cvijece-u-kazalistu-21/
Reactions to the Femicide
In reaction to the femicide, Vjelko Kajtazi, president of the Kali Sara Roma association said that every time an incident occurs, Roma suddenly have no name and surname. He was attending a meeting with the vice president Davor Božinović and representatives of the Međimurje local government. The topic of the meeting was the integration of members of the Roma national minority.
- Kajtazi: Svaki put kad se dogodi incident, Romi odjednom nemaju ime i prezime. In: Index. 05.12.2025. https://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/bozinovic-poticat-cemo-mlade-rome-na-preseljenje-i-integraciju/2737437.aspx
Femicide and Racism in Croatia
in Sitnice, in Northern Croatia close to Slovenia, a man shot two women, killing one, and leaving the other severely wounded in hospital. The two young women were shot in their home in a Roma settlement.
The mayor of Mursko Središće stated that the Sitnice Roma settlement is one of the safest in the country.
A large number of Croats, especially from Međimurje, reacted with hate speech in comments on social networks, without any sympathy for the young woman who lost her life, mocking the Roma and calling for their murder or extermination and the abolition of social assistance.
This is a classic example of femicide, which is a growing problem worldwide, including in Croatia.
- UDRUGA VOLONTERA ‘PRUŽI MI RUKU’ Tragični događaj nije romski problem, već femicide. In: eMedjimurje. 05.12.2025. https://emedjimurje.net.hr/vijesti/crna-kronika/3155557/udruga-volontera-pruzi-mi-ruku-tragicni-dogadaj-nije-romski-problem-vec-femicid/#google_vignette
Croatia and Revisionism
From the massive concert by Thompson, a Croatian music legend known for his far-right sympathies, which drew 450,000 people to Zagreb in July, to the attacks by hooligans on Serbian cultural events in November, tensions have been escalating in recent months, notes Florian Bieber of the Austrian University of Graz.
“We are seeing both a rise in historical revisionism and an increase in threats against those who think differently,” explains the researcher. This process is accompanied by numerous attempts to rehabilitate the Ustaša, the pro-Nazi regime that ruled during World War II. “This isn’t new, but it has accelerated and intensified this year,” adds Mr. Bieber.
We reported also on the fact that a “debate” on the victims of Jasenovac was held in the premises of the Croatian Parliament, denying the fact that Jasenovac was an extermination camp.
Nevertheless, thousands of Croatian manifested against this revisionism and the extreme right.
- En Croatie, la banalisation de l’ultra-nationalisme et la montée du révisionnisme. In: France24. 01.12.2025. https://www.france24.com/fr/info-en-continu/20251201-en-croatie-la-banalisation-de-l-ultra-nationalisme-et-la-montée-du-révisionnisme
- Des milliers de Croates manifestent contre la montée de l’extrême droite après une série d’incidents. In: Entrevues. 01.12.2025. https://entrevue.fr/monde/des-milliers-de-croates-manifestent-contre-la-montee-de-lextreme-droite-apres-une-serie-dincidents/
Croatian Revisionism
Last month, a roundtable was held in the Croatian parliament on the Jasenovac camp which was organized by the DOMiNO and Croatian Sovereigns parties. It was attended by historical revisionists Igor Vukić and Nikola Banić, as well as of Milorad Pupovac (SDSS).
“According to credible sources, Jasenovac was not a death camp, during the roundtable. He and his interlocutors denied the official number of victims cited by the Jasenovac Memorial Site Public Institution (JUSP) citing 83,145 people killed there, among which more than 20’000 children. According to these revisionists, there were only children from neighbouring regions attending vocational schools.
The question arises as to who allowed revisionists and deniers of the crimes in Jasenovac to hold a debate and how is it possible that for denying the Holocaust in other European Union countries you end up in prison, but in Croatia you get a hall in the Croatian Parliament.
- Tip u saboru rekao da NDH treba ući u Ustav i da Jasenovac nije bio logor smrti. In: Index. 28.10.2025. https://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/u-saboru-okrugli-stol-o-jasenovcu-to-nije-bio-logor-smrti-nego-radni-logor/2724852.aspx
- Održan okrugli stol u Saboru, nizala se skandalozna izlaganja, Pero Šola sve šokirao: ‘Pa javljali su se učenici iz cijele NDH…‘ In: Juraniji. 28.10.2025. https://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/jasenovac-okrugli-stol-podjele-sabor-igor-vukic-15637026
- Negacionistima nije mjesto u Saboru. In: Portal Novosti. 28.10.2025. https://www.portalnovosti.com/revizonistima-nije-mjesto-u-saboru/
- Sabor se ograđuje od okruglog stola DOMiNO-a i HS-a kojim su relativizirani zločini u Jasenovcu. In: Večernji List. 28.10.2025. https://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/skup-u-saboru-jasenovac-nije-bio-logor-smrti-nego-radni-logor-ndh-bi-trebala-uci-u-ustav-1902573
Croatia: Integration
Međimurje County invited citizens to vote online to support the story of the Međimurje Sports Network about Vjeran Balog from Parag, which has entered the competition for the best journalistic work on the topic of inclusion and tolerance in the community.
The story follows Vjeran Balog, a football coach dedicated to working with young people, who last week became the first Roma to hold a coaching diploma from the Croatian Football Federation (HNS). His example shows how motivation and focus can overcome great obstacles.
- GLASAJTE ZA MEĐIMURJE: Priča o Vjeranu Balogu, prvom licenciranom romskom treneru HNS-a, u utrci za najbolji novinarski rad. In: Radio 105. 20.11.2025. https://radio105.hr/glasajte-za-medimurje-prica-o-vjeranu-balogu-prvom-licenciranom-romskom-treneru-hns-a-u-utrci-za-najbolji-novinarski-rad/
Croatia and Roma
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia and Minister of the Interior, Dr. sc. Davor Božinović, paid an official visit to Međimurje County. The topic of the meeting was community security, strengthening interdepartmental cooperation and the continuation of projects that contribute to better integration of the population, especially in Roma settlements.
As part of the visit, Minister Božinović visited Kuršanec Elementary School, where he met with Roma helpers in class.
- DAVOR BOŽINOVIĆ Ministar posjetio OŠ Kuršanec i romske pomagače. In: Medjimurje. 11.11.2025. https://emedjimurje.net.hr/vijesti/drustvo/3144739/davor-bozinovic-ministar-posjetio-os-kursanec-i-romske-pomagace/#google_vignette
Croatia: Living together
The deputy mayor of the Pribislavec Municipality, a Rom, Rajko Kovačić, spoke out, expressing great dissatisfaction at the stop of the work in the Roma settlement aimed at preventing the illegal dumping of garbage. Ther cause of the stop seems to be tensions within the municipal council.
- Rajko Kovačić: ‘Nećemo stati – radimo za čisti, sigurni i bolji Pribislavec za sve!“ 18.10.2025. https://medjimurski.hr/rajko-kovacic-necemo-stati-radimo-za-cisti-sigurni-i-bolji-pribislavec-za-sve/
Croatia: Multicultural Centre
The contract for building a new multicultural centre in the Sitnice settlement in Mursko Središće was signed. With the construction of the Roma Multicultural Centre, the Sitnice settlement will receive a long-awaited space that will be used for work with children, education, culture and various social activities of the Roma community, which will significantly contribute to improving the quality of life and integration.
We’re not sur this is the best help for integration.
- Potpisan ugovor za II. fazu: Romski multikulturni centar Sitnice korak bliže realizaciji. In: Radio 105. 21.10.2025. https://radio105.hr/potpisan-ugovor-za-ii-fazu-romski-multikulturni-centar-sitnice-korak-blize-realizaciji/
Romani Literature in Croatia
Romani literature is not small, it is just not taken seriously enough, said author Ruždija Russo Sejdović in an interview at the opening of the Review of Small Literature on Tuesday in Booksa, Croatia, this year dedicated to Romani literature in Europe.
- Revija malih književnosti: Romska književnost nije shvaćena dovoljno ozbiljno. In: Prigorski. 07.10.2025. https://prigorski.hr/revija-malih-knjizevnosti-romska-knjizevnost-nije-shvacena-dovoljno-ozbiljno/
Lovara in Croatia
In the village of Maglenča in Bjelovar-Bilogora County, Lovari, with the Roma House cultural and tourist centre, preserves its rich history, customs, and cultural heritage, thereby contributing to breaking down prejudices and promoting understanding in society. Under the leadership of the Đurđević family, they offer visitors authentic experiences – from traditional food, lavender products, cultural presentations to inspiring stories about freedom, inclusion, and coexistence.
- Plava Ciganka in prvi romski diplomant: Lovari s tradicijo rušijo predsodke. In: ne Deljski. 12.08.2025. https://www.dnevnik.si/nedeljski/prosti-cas/romska-hisa-v-maglenci-kjer-lovari-s-tradicijo-rusijo-predsodke-2747849/
Croatia and World War Two
On the occasion of the International Day of Remembrance of Roma Victims of Genocide in World War II – Samudaripen, at the Roma Memorial A commemoration was held at the Uštica centre, where the representative of the Roma national minority, Veljko Kajtazi, condemned every attempt at historical revisionism.
“When we increasingly see attempts at historical revisionism and hiding the truth, we are obliged to send a strong message from this place – a message that the victory over fascism was not in vain,” Kajtazi emphasized, adding that silence in the face of revisionism becomes complicity.
- Kajtazi u Uštici osudio pokušaj povijesnog revizionizma. In: Jutarni. 02.08.2025. https://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/kajtazi-u-ustici-osudio-pokusaj-povijesnog-revizionizma-15609632#google_vignette
Roma Community Centre
The Roma Community Center “5. studeni” was officially opened in the Slavonski Brod settlement “Josip Rimac”, a space that will play an important role in the life of the Roma community and the wider local community in the future. The opening was attended by numerous guests and locals, including MP Veljko Kajtazi, President of the Roma Alliance in the Republic of Croatia Suzana Krčmar, and Director of the Office for Human Rights and National Minorities Alen Tahiri.
Whether this is a helpful project will be seen in the coming years.
- Slavonski Brod: Otvoren Romski društveni dom “5. studeni”. In: Glas Slavonje. 16.07.2025. https://glas-slavonije.hr/regija/2025/07/16/slavonski-brod-otvoren-romski-drustveni-dom-5-studeni-707049/#google_vignette
- Novi prostor zajedništva u naselju Josip Rimac. In: Regionalni. 16.07.2025. https://regionalni.hr/novi-prostor-zajednistva-u-naselju-josip-rimac/
Croatia: Marko Perković Thompson
A concert last Saturday in Croatia’s capital Zagreb by Marko Perković “Thompson”, attended by an estimated 500’000 people leaves a bitter aftertaste.
Nazi salutes, Ustaša symbols and songs.
Scary.
- Thompson Concert in Zagreb Sparks Jitters About Fascist Chants. In: Balkan 07.07.2025. https://balkaninsight.com/2025/07/07/thompson-concert-in-zagreb-sparks-jitters-about-fascist-chants/
- Croatian right-wing singer joins hundreds of thousands of fans in pro-Nazi salute. In: The Times of Israel. 07.07.2025. https://www.timesofisrael.com/croatian-right-wing-singer-joins-hundreds-of-thousands-of-fans-in-pro-nazi-salute/
- VIDEO: Thompson plays to 504,000 to break world record in Zagreb. In: Croatia Week. 06.07.2025. https://www.croatiaweek.com/video-thompson-plays-to-504000-to-break-world-record-in-zagreb/
- Croatia govt lashed over ‘disgraceful neo-fascist Woodstock’. In: France 24. 07.07.2025. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250707-croatia-govt-lashed-over-disgraceful-neo-fascist-woodstock
- Brnabić eksplozivno o Thompsonu: ‘Ovo je najava novih zločina u budućnosti’. In: RI Portal. 08.07.2025. https://riportal.net.hr/vijesti/brnabic-eksplozivno-o-thompsonu-ovo-je-najava-novih-zlocina-u-buducnosti/504649/#google_vignette
Croatia: Community Centre
According to Milorad Mihanović, president of the Sitnice Local Board “the Roma settlement of Sitnice is one of the more well-organized in Međimurje. It has electricity, water, sewage, paved roads, and even broadband internet.”
About 700 locals will soon get a Roma multicultural centre – a place for education, social events, and also for children to stay. The Roma multicultural centre, a project that aims to enrich the social and cultural life of the community, has been put “under the roof”, and the value of the first phase of construction is 566,000 EUR and the funds were obtained from the budget of the Ministry of Regional Development and European Union funds, the Council for National Minorities of the Republic of Croatia and the Roma Alliance in the Republic of Croatia “KALI SARA”. The main investor and implementer of the project is the City of Mursko Središće.
Now, apparently, there is a drive to rename the street after Veljko Kajtazi, the president of the Kali Sara organisation.
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