News Western Europe – rroma.org https://rroma.org Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:35:19 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://rroma.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/cropped-greenwheel_large-1-32x32.png News Western Europe – rroma.org https://rroma.org 32 32 Mariazell https://rroma.org/mariazell-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mariazell-2 Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:35:19 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=34221 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.

]]> Greece, Politics, and Roma https://rroma.org/greece-politics-and-roma/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=greece-politics-and-roma Wed, 12 Aug 2026 14:32:39 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=34212 Aphrodite Latinopoulou, president of ‘Voice of Reason’, faced a verbal attack from a group of Roma while waiting to travel in Tinos, Greece. The confrontation escalated after Latinopoulou defended her statements stating that Roma are criminals, are evading taxes, and using deragotary terms about them, leading to vulgar insults directed at her.

The Coast Guard intervened but did not take further action after asking the parties to cease the altercation; Latinopoulou later reported the incident to the police upon arrival.

Latinopoulou described the incident, stating that she was confronted by men who challenged her comments about criminal behavior among Roma, leading to a heated exchange.

She accused the coast guard of inaction during the incident and linked the altercation to broader governmental issues, expressing disdain for the current political climate in Greece.

]]> Cologne and Deportation https://rroma.org/cologne-and-deportation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cologne-and-deportation Mon, 10 Aug 2026 14:10:03 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=34161 An article which severely condemns the Cologne city administration for preventing the deportation of Roma who have committed crimes and are required to leave the country. The article’s author says tht this must not go unpunished.

]]> French Chronicle … https://rroma.org/french-chronicle-370/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=french-chronicle-370 Sun, 09 Aug 2026 13:42:53 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=34148 Many articles about the expulsion of a Roma camp in Orry la Ville, leaving 300 Roma homless. Many of the articles complain of the huge garbage left over when Roma left. As usual, guilt on this one is not always the obvious ones.

Other news, a camp inb Marseilles may be closed;  and the RN (Extreme right) calls for a “restoration of order” in Antibes, read the expulsion of Roma.

]]> Lackenbach https://rroma.org/lackenbach-3/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lackenbach-3 Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:23:37 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=34110 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.

]]> This is really bad … https://rroma.org/this-is-really-bad/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=this-is-really-bad Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:22:49 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=34107 A video from a party in Ano Liosia, Greece, shows a chaotic scene where a man is said to threaten police with a knife, raising concerns about law enforcement and public safety in certain areas of Attica.

The video, intended to mock authorities, depicts police retreating to avoid escalating violence, which has led to criticism of their effectiveness and the state’s tolerance of criminal behavior.

The cover picture of the vide says it all. This is bad in every sense of the word. Bad tht it happened, and bad that it is being escalated in the press.

]]> Burgenland Roma https://rroma.org/burgenland-roma-3/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=burgenland-roma-3 Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:29:31 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=34065 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.

]]> Lackenbach https://rroma.org/lackenbach-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lackenbach-2 Mon, 03 Aug 2026 14:43:15 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=33995 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.

]]> Memory https://rroma.org/memory-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=memory-2 Sat, 01 Aug 2026 12:46:23 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=33962 Frieda Daniels, a 93-year-old former high-wire artist, shares her experiences during the genocide at the time of the Holocaust to educate younger generations about the atrocities faced by the Sinti and Roma community.

She and her family were persecuted by the Nazis, with an estimated 500,000 Sinti and Roma murdered during the genocide.

Now living in California, Frieda continues to travel and speak about her past, recently reflecting on her experiences during a visit to an exhibition in Heidelberg, Germany.

]]> Roma in Greece https://rroma.org/roma-in-greece-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=roma-in-greece-2 Sat, 01 Aug 2026 12:43:22 +0000 https://rroma.org/?p=33953 Many members of the Roma community in Greece live on the margins of society, facing poverty, poor housing conditions, and limited access to education and healthcare.

Roma settlements are often located on city outskirts, lacking proper infrastructure and basic utilities, leading to high unemployment and social exclusion.

Despite government programs aimed at better integration, progress is slow due to deeply rooted barriers, including low education rates and widespread discrimination against the Roma.

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