Category Archives: Austria

Austria News Western Europe

Remembering the Bombs

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Remembering the Bombs

The Antifascist Remembrance Initiative, established in 2023, focuses on raising awareness about right-wing extremist bomb terror in Austria, particularly from 1993 to 1996, which resulted in injuries and fatalities among minority groups.

Their publication, “Missed Remembrance? Right-Wing Bomb Terror 1993–1996 in Austria,” details 25 letter bombs and three pipe bomb attacks, highlighting the impact on victims and society’s response.

The initiative emphasizes the importance of remembering these events to prevent future occurrences, with contributions from various authors, including a piece by Manuela Horvath discussing the Oberwart bombing’s effects on the Roma community.

Austria News Western Europe

SV “Gypsy Kings”

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SV “Gypsy Kings”

The article discusses the football club “SV Gipsy Kings” in Vienna, which aims to reduce prejudices and strengthen player identities. The club recently played its first match in the Vienna State Cup and is the first official Roma football club participating in Austria’s regular league.

Founded by coach Slobodan Antonijevic and chairman Franco Ibrahimovic, the club is entering its second season since establishment.

Austria News Western Europe

Roma in Austria

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Roma in Austria

Josef Schmidt, born in 1971, grew up in a former Roma settlement in Burgenland, Austria, and faced discrimination during his school years, including being called derogatory names.

A recent police warning about “traveling people” has reignited feelings of discrimination among Roma, with Schmidt expressing concern that it unfairly stereotypes all Roma.

Organizations like Romano Centro in Vienna support both long-standing and newly arrived Roma and Sinti in Austria, focusing on employment, crisis support for women, and educational assistance for students.

Austria News Western Europe

Burgenland Roma

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Burgenland Roma

An article which discusses the omission of Roma in a column about the coexistence of ethnic groups in Burgenland, Austria, highlighting the presence of over 3,000 Roma individuals in the region.

It mentions Manuela Horvath, the first Roma city councilor in Austria, emphasizing her role in promoting inter-ethnic relations beyond Burgenland.

The author reflects on the lack of education about the Roma during their school years and acknowledges the need for recognizing and admitting mistakes in public discourse.

Austria News Western Europe

House of Ethnic Groups

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House of Ethnic Groups

Hans Peter Doskozil, the Governor of Burgenland, calls the new House of Ethnic Groups a “century project” and a milestone for cultural diversity in the region.

The building, located on the site of a former municipal boarding school, hosts various cultural associations including Hungarian, Croatian, and Roma organizations.

The project cost approximately 20 million euros and includes seminar rooms, a library, an event hall, guest rooms, apartments, and a bistro.

Austria News Western Europe

Braunau …

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Braunau …

Braunau am Inn celebrates the 25th anniversary of the RoSi-Rastplatz, a unique project supporting Roma and Sinti travelers, recognized for promoting integration and tolerance.

The anniversary features two cultural events: a film screening of “Black Cat, White Cat” and a reading by author Karl-Markus Gauß, highlighting minority cultures.

The RoSi-Rastplatz has received multiple awards for its contributions to civil courage and human rights, emphasizing the importance of peaceful coexistence.

Austria News Western Europe

Vienna Memorial

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Vienna Memorial

A memorial for the victims of National Socialism from the Roma and Sinti communities is set to be completed in Vienna by spring 2029, with a focus on engaging youth through social media.

The National Fund aims to maintain project funding despite a decreasing budget and emphasizes the importance of education in combating hate and Holocaust denial.

The chairman, Peter Haubner, advocates for a clear stance against controversial terms like “remigration” in political discourse, stressing the need for sensitivity in Holocaust remembrance. 

Austria News Western Europe

Chris the Painter

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Chris the Painter

Chris the Painter, also known as Christian Dumitrasku, creates diverse artworks, including portraits and depictions of Roma musicians, from his studio in Vienna.

He emphasizes the importance of remembering the history of the Roma community, particularly the Holocaust, and engages with his social media followers for inspiration and feedback.

Despite facing discrimination online, Chris remains committed to his art and aims to educate others about Roma culture and history through his work and future exhibitions.

Austria News Western Europe

House of Ethnic Groups

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House of Ethnic Groups

The new House of Ethnic Groups in Oberwart, Austria,  will officially open on September 26, coinciding with the European Day of Languages, promoting cultural diversity.

The center unites various organizations representing Burgenland’s ethnic groups, including Croatian, Hungarian, and Roma communities, providing facilities for cultural activities and collaboration.

The opening event will feature a public open house, allowing visitors to explore the new facilities and learn about the work of the involved organizations.

Austria News Western Europe

Travellers and Religion

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Travellers and Religion

Over 200 caravans are gathered in Ried im Innkreis, Austria, for a summer holiday organized by the free Christian church association Jeschua, attracting travelers from various German states.

The two-week event, themed “Traveling with God,” includes daily worship services in a large tent church, fostering a sense of community among participants, many of whom have roots in Austria or Germany.

Pastor Karl Schmidt highlights the challenges of discrimination faced by the Sinti and Roma communities, while emphasizing the importance of understanding individual groups rather than generalizing based on negative stereotypes.

Austria News Western Europe

Coexistence

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Coexistence

Austrian Minister for integration Claudia Bauer presented a new survey on coexistence in Austria, which has been criticized for questionable methods and results.

The online survey was conducted by pollster Peter Hajek and social scientist Rudolf Bretschneider for the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF).

What is controversial? Well, that only 11% of respondents declared having a migration background, whereas in Austria, this is closer to 29%. But the article presents one of the best critique about the question “who can be my neighbour”. The journalist notes that actually what is missing are “racists”, “nazis” and other “extrem-right” …

Well spotted.

Austria News Western Europe

Mariazell

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Mariazell

The Roma and Sinti have a long-standing tradition of pilgrimage to Mariazell, which was interrupted by the Nazis in 1938 but has been revived since 1996, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

The pilgrimage serves as a cultural expression for the Roma community, featuring a bilingual mass in German and Burgenlandromani, promoting inclusion for both Roma and non-Roma participants.

Youth involvement is significant, with Roma children and teenagers contributing to the event, and this year’s theme focused on peace in light of current international events.

Austria News Western Europe

ReIMAGINE

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ReIMAGINE

EDUCULT, based in Vienna, is working on the ‘ReIMAGINE’ project to diversify European memory culture, focusing on the history and experiences of the Roma community.

The project involves collaboration with partners from five European countries and aims to create innovative educational tools, including a board game dedicated to Roma heroes.

‘ReIMAGINE’ will develop an interactive training toolkit for educators to present diverse historical perspectives and is supported by the EU’s Erasmus+ program until 2027.

Austria News Western Europe

Burgenland Roma

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Burgenland Roma

The Roma community has deep historical roots in Austria but continues to face prejudice, exclusion, and discrimination.

The documentary “Roma. A Cinematic Approach” spans from the 1930s to the present, highlighting both the suffering and the vibrant culture of the Roma people, including their music, traditions, and family stories.

The film features contributions from the Roma community, creating an authentic portrayal rather than an external perspective

Austria News Western Europe

Mariazell

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Mariazell

The 30th pilgrimage of Roma, Sinti, and Lovara from Austria and other European countries took place at the Basilica of Mariazell, led by Bishop Franz Scharl, who emphasized faith in Jesus Christ during the service.

The mass featured songs in Romanes and German, performed by a mixed group of Roma and non-Roma musicians, symbolizing friendship and unity, with children creating a special pilgrimage candle focused on peace.

The pilgrimage has a long tradition, interrupted in 1938, and resumed in 1996 after the official recognition of the Roma community in Austria, with an estimated 40,000 to 80,000 Roma and Sinti living in the country today.

Austria News Western Europe

Lackenbach

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Lackenbach

Commemorative events in Vienna and Lackenbach honored the Roma and Sinti persecuted and murdered during the Nazi regime, with speeches emphasizing the local impact of these historical crimes.

Historian Gerhard Baumgartner highlighted the inhumane treatment of Roma, including wrongful deportations based on misconceptions about them not wanting to work.

The events aimed to preserve the memory of the victims and promote the importance of maintaining the language, culture, and identity of the Roma and Sinti community in Austria.

Austria News Western Europe

Burgenland Roma

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Burgenland Roma

A docuemntary about Roma from Burgenland, featuring texts by Michael Köhlmeier, spans from the 1930s to the present, addressing themes of adaptation pressure, persecution, and exclusion, while also celebrating the cultural diversity and vibrancy of the Burgenland Roma community.

The Roma community played a significant role in the creation of the documentary, with historical settings resembling a Roma camp from the 1930s being constructed for filming in Oslip.

Musical contributions to the film include works from Ferry Janoska and Tony Wegas.

Austria News Western Europe

Lackenbach

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Lackenbach

Approximately 4,000 Roma and Sinti were deported from the Lackenbach detention camp during the Nazi era, with only a few hundred surviving, most of whom were murdered.

The commemoration event emphasizes the importance of remembering these atrocities, which occurred within local communities, and the need to confront the past to ensure a peaceful future.

Political leaders stress the necessity of protecting minority rights and combating hate and discrimination as part of honoring the memory of the victims.

Austria News Western Europe

Vienna Memorial Service

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Vienna Memorial Service

A memorial service for Roma and Sinti victims of the Holocaust will take place on August 2 at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, led by Auxiliary Bishop Franz Scharl, with a wreath-laying ceremony to follow.

Austria officially recognizes August 2 as a National Holocaust Remembrance Day for Roma and Sinti, commemorating the murder of approximately 4,300 individuals in Auschwitz in 1944.

The 30th Roma Pilgrimage to Mariazell is scheduled for August 9, celebrating faith and culture, with participation from Roma communities across Europe.

Austria News Western Europe

Austria and Roma

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Austria and Roma

In May, the police in Neusiedl am See issued a warning about a group of Roma in Parndorf, which sparked public outrage and criticism.

The warning referred to members of the ‘traveling people’ who were in the area, specifically a group of Roma from Alsace, France, and Germany, who frequently stop in Austrian communities during their travels to Evangelical Mission meetings.

It now turns out that the warning was vetted within the police …

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