Category Archives: France

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

An interesting article highlighting the fact that Roma from Romania actually work, and save money to build a house back in Romania. The rest is more like the usual. Asking where Roma expelled from a camp went – obviously in another camp; an article of Breizh Info claiming that 40% of delicts are done by migrants – claiming the new prefect stated it (but they do not mention it); a vot4er contesting the oucome of the vote for mayor on the basis that many registered voters (read Roma) did not fulfill the actual requirements; an article on Romanes and its influence on French (not really brilliant); and finally an exhibition in Nantes.

Rivesaltes

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Rivesaltes

Rivesaltes, a town in Roussillon, is home to a former military camp that served as an internment site during World War II for Spanish refugees, Jews, and Roma, highlighting multiple narratives of exile and forced displacement. From there many were deported to extermination camps.

The Rivesaltes Memorial emphasizes the importance of individual stories over mere statistics, providing a somber reflection on the past while acknowledging the town’s rich historical context dating back to 923.

The article also notes a historical riot in 1873, illustrating Rivesaltes’ long-standing political and social tensions, and suggests that visitors should appreciate both the memorial and the town’s broader historical significance.

Hamidovic Clan

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Hamidovic Clan

Seven members of the Hamidovic family are on trial in Paris for human trafficking, organized theft, corruption of minors, money laundering, and criminal conspiracy, accused of forcing children to steal in specific locations.

The clan, known for exploiting young girls, allegedly coerced children under 13 to steal up to 300 euros daily, using violence and threats to ensure compliance.

Previous operations against the clan have led to convictions, and the current trial focuses on the nephew of a previously convicted leader, indicating ongoing criminal activities.

They are Bosnian Roma. It is really bad.

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

Not many news this week in France on Roma. Only two relevant articles, apart from the le Monde reportage. One in Nantes where a restaurant owner tries to block Roma from putting their camping cars in front of his restaurant, and another also near Nantes, where Roma are squating in a wood and are cutting trees.

The Hamidović Clan

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The Hamidović Clan

A reportage from le Monde on the Hamidović clan, Roma from Bosnia, mostly located in France, who engage in widespread theft / pickpocket activities. Woemn are sent to steal, men spend the money. A really sad story, as this re-inforces the stereotypes on Roma in general.

But a true story too, and a story that may have been different had it not been a civil war in Bosnia who dispalced them all.

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

Appart form the many articles on Toni Gatlif about which we reported separatedly, the news in France are more of the usual. Politics in Nantes after the expulsion of a camps in the East of the city, and a large camp near Paris being closed, leaving, according to the press a large amount of garbage.

Homage to Toni Gatlif

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Homage to Toni Gatlif

Many articles on Toni Gatlif, a French director known for his films celebrating Roma culture, who passed away at 77 due to health issues while working on a film in France.

His notable works include ‘Latcho Drom’ and ‘Gadjo Dilo’, both of which received critical acclaim and awards.

Gatlif, born in Algeria, had a complex background and was recognized for his unique storytelling that highlighted themes of music, movement, and exile.

Toni Gatlif

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Toni Gatlif

Filmmaker Tony Gatlif, a champion of Roma culture with some twenty films to his credit – including Gadjo Dilo – died on Wednesday at the age of 77, his family announced to Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Friday, September 4. The director died in Arles (Bouches-du-Rhône) from health problems while working on a historical film project.

Te avel i phuv lokhi!

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

The usual, unfortunately, this week in France. Fires in Roma slums in Nantes, one of which burnt several appartments; an eviction of a squatt in Marseilles; a huge dump is left after an eviction near Paris, as usual it is not said it is the Roma or simply opportunistic; and a Ceja Stoika exhibition…

France and the Camps

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France and the Camps

During World War II, many Romani and other traveler groups faced severe discrimination in France, leading to their displacement and imprisonment in internment and extermination camps.

The article marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the last travelers from these internment camps in France.

Reporters Antonia Kerrigan and Valentine Erba interviewed a French survivor of the internment camps to share their experiences.

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

This last week news about Roma in France was dominated by the eviction of two camps of Roma near Nantes in Western France, and by a fire in a camp near the same city. Ngos and Roma protested against these closures arguing that they are working, their children are going to school. In the South of France, near Marseilles, the same pattern emerges. Near Paris, a mayor speaks about Roma…

Bad … Especially when one thinks that this involves less than 15’000 people who have been in France for over 20 years …

Belgian Reportage

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Belgian Reportage

A reportage from the Belgian RTL on Roma camps in France, and on the fact that they do work. They state that Roma are an integral part of the economy of certain regions and an important source of workforce.

It highlights the hypocrisy of chasing them from precarious camps to new ones.

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

A fire in a camp in Western France; an article about a campment in Western France (from a biased source); and a camp being dismantled near Nantes in Western France, promting protests.

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

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.

Roma in Europe

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Roma in Europe

The European Union’s new strategy for combating discrimination against Roma, adopted on January 21, 2026, aims to address historical and institutional discrimination with more radical measures.

Roma, the largest ethnic minority in Europe, face significant socio-economic challenges, including high poverty rates and discrimination in access to education and healthcare.

The new strategy emphasizes education, equal rights, and political participation for Roma, while acknowledging the need to address broader societal issues that contribute to anti-Roma discrimination.

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Al the articles this week on Roma in France focused on two fires in two Roma camps in Nantes and Saint Herblain. In the “Prairie des Mauves” in Nantes, 10 hectares burnt down, most caravans were destroyed. In the other fire in Saint Herblain, nearly 8 hectares and several caravans burn down. Now nearly 200 people have nowhere to go.

According to the police, the fire in the Prairie des Mauves started when a car caught fire.

In Saint Herblain, one paper suggests that the Roma were invovled in planting canabis, although there are no proofs that the plants found were planted by Roma.

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

Not much this week in France about Roma. A concert titled “Vent d’Est” in the South of France; the closure of acamp near Nantes will not be closed before next spring; and finally, an article about the accusation by the rightist oppposition in Nantes, that Roma were registered to vote (which by the way in legal for EU citizen to vote in local elections in France.

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

A few news this week on Roma in France. The usual, with a fire in a garbage dump on the site of  a former Roma camp; and a fight between Roma in Grenoble with iron bars and even a firearm. A Čeja Stojka Exhibition in Besançon. An interesting opinion piece on studies about Roma in France; and finally, an association which provides health care to Roma camps.

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

Many articles this week on the closure of what was deemed the largest Roma camp near Paris, in Stains. Out of 800 people living there, only 48 have received a re-lodging offer. A shame.

Near Nantes, in Saint Herblain, same issue: Camp closure but no alternative for its residents.

A fire near Paris on the former site of a Roma camp, implicitely attributed to them.

Then two intersting articlees, one on the commemoration of the internment of travellers in France during thed War, and the second, a reportage in a commune led by the extreme right, faced with the fact that many Bulgarian Roma live there, employed by the local farmers…

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

More news this week in France about Roma.  A reportage about Romanian Roma who have been expelled from France and are returning there; questions about the condemnatioin of France by the European Union; politics in the Nantes region following an accusation of having used Roma to win local elections; near Nantes, a camp being evacuated; in Westen France, a mayor condemned for having denied Roima water; and finally, the impact of the recent extreme heat in France on a settlement near Paris.

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