No notable news about Roma this week in France, apart from a fire in one camp in Western France. It just shows that when there are news, there is no need to bash on Roma…
An article about the 3’500 Roma who live in shantytowns near Nantes at least presents the truth: these are people employed in the region to pick fruits and vegetables … The rest of the news are standard: Ca camp closure and subequent cleanup near Toulon in the South, and a new camp in Marseilles with angry neighbours.
The election of a socialist mayor in the Nantes region was contested, as several Roma registered themselves for this election. Now her election has been confirmed. Five moves from Toni Gatliff are being shown in Saint-Etienne. Noël Mamère, a French Green politician says that “Rom,a are the new Jews” in an interview. Other news are more of the usual. Residents in Marseilles ask for the expulsion of 25 Roma families. A fire in a camp in Nantes. And finally, the work of an association helping sick Roma children.
Four associations have filed a complaint against an “illegal ethnic file” maintained by the gendarmerie regarding Roma and travelers. The existence of such files has always been denied by the French government.
Other news are moreof the usual. Gendarmes arrested Roma stealing car loading cables; a contestation ongoing for the elections in a commune near Nantes, and a French politicia stating that we’d have all the means to integrate these Roma (after all they have been there for more than 20 years, and there are not more than 30’000 of them).
The Bulgarian Roma community in Moissac, France, is in conflict with local authorities, primarily due to issues of integration and social welfare abuse, as highlighted by Mayor Romain Lopez (Rassemblement National – an extreme right party).
The mayor has increased police presence and surveillance to control gatherings of the community, while community members feel targeted and discriminated against, claiming they must hide their origins to find work.
Tensions are rising as the local population perceives the Bulgarian community as a burden on social services, with some locals preferring workers from other countries, and the upcoming presidential elections may further exacerbate these issues.
The French Institute of Bulgaria is hosting the launch of the exhibition “Sillages” on October 8, 2026, which focuses on the history and presence of Romani communities in France, featuring discussions with experts Cécile Canut and Ognyan Isaev.
The exhibition, designed by the National Museum of Immigration History in Paris, aims to shed light on the often-overlooked contributions of these communities to French society and the stereotypes they face.
The event will include discussions in French and Bulgarian, with simultaneous interpretation, and will explore the narratives surrounding Romani communities and the impact of misinformation on their representation.
Nantes, in Western France is by now the largest focus of news about Roma in France. Politicians from the local majority are firmly condeming increasingly racist attackas against Roma in social media, which is to be praised. Two other artciles, one about relodging folowwing a fire, and one about animal maltreatance.
Roberto Hamidović and six family members were sentenced for forcing children into mass pickpocketing in Paris, with Hamidović receiving eight years in prison and a €500,000 fine.
The family, Roma from Bosnia, was involved in various crimes including human trafficking and organized theft, with children used to evade prosecution.
The fact thagt this appears in Slovenia, with strong views about Roma “criminality” highlights how one family can severely damage the image of an entire population.
Bad.
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, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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…
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.
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 …
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.
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