A lengthy article about a traffic of cheap Chinese ware landing in Greece and being sold in Bulgaria. It seems that most of the drivers who pass this across the border are Roma.
A traffic accident that occurred in the early hours of Thursday, April 25, at the intersection of Thivon and Kanapitseri streets in West Athens, with a 12-year-old girl as the victim. The accident actually occurred in a parallel universe, invisible to most of us. What was the little girl doing there, at this time, alone? Who left her? Where were her parents? Those would be normal questions. But the girl is a Romni, “Gypsy” as most people still say. So, it’s not at all strange that he was all alone on the streets at 2:00 in the morning, “that’s what they do” (said with disapproval and perhaps some disgust). And the issue will end there.
The Greek Minister of Citizen Protection Michalis Chrysochoïdis has announced two new shock measures: a ban on public concerts in the Exarchia district of Athens and the creation of a specialized police unit to combat crime among Roma communities. The minister cited very high crime rates. “This situation must end. These groups are responsible for a large number of crimes: drug trafficking, fraud, burglaries, robberies… And it is the residents of the affected areas who are paying the price.”
According to him, the unit is already operational, with a structure, a hierarchy, ongoing investigations, and identified individuals. “Our objective is clear: to dismantle these networks. This is a personal commitment, first to myself, but also on behalf of the police.” This has been going on for decades, it’s time to put an end to it. But to do so, we will need everyone’s commitment.”
Bad.
A theatre performance about Roma in Greece, with Roma. The scenography, which, through its few elements, flouts expectations. A plastic chair, a wooden hut with a tin roof, grass and rocks, car seats, a guitar, and even a large, dilapidated billboard—which will serve as a projection screen—denote an environment that ticks all the boxes of stereotypes. Assistant director Avraam Goutzeloudis, himself Roma, introduces the setting.
A reportage in a Roma camp in Preveza, Greece. Unfortunately historically inaccurate in the Greek context, but otherwise representing the situation that exists in such camps in Greece.
The representation of people in schools says a lot about their condition. In this regard, that of the Roma raises questions in the Balkan countries: despite some real efforts, school textbooks remain very incomplete and perpetuate false ideas, as in Romania and Greece.
Good article, false history… Roma left earlier than indicated.
An article about the representation of Romain Greece and Romania schoolbooks.
Good intentions, but stating that Roma arrived in the 14th century in Europe is also a misrepresentation …
They would never have had the opportunity to learn Greek …
So good intentions, and total lack of knowledge.
What does Trump have to do with Roma? Well, according to this Greek article, American Presidential Inaugurations are very much like Roma weddings. Actually not like Roma weddings, but what the journalist thinks Roma wedding are like.
Bad, as it perpetuates stereotypes.
Several articles in the Bulgarian press about a police action in Roma settlements in Greece against the “copper mafia”, which steals and trades metals on the black market. According to the police, these are usually Roma gangs, and the target of their raids are copper cables and railway tracks. Catalytic converters are also removed from the cars, which are then sold on the black market for between 400 and 900 euros. The more expensive ones are stolen to order from illegal car repair shops.
Among the people arrested there were Greeks, Bulgarians, and Romanians.
A conference on Antisemmitism and anti-Roma racism in Greece on October 17th. It goes unter the motto “Let us never forget” and investigates the roots of the Holocaust, a systematic genocide during World War II, which targeted, Jews and Roma on ethnic grounds. Its roots lie in long-standing prejudices and the radicalization of exclusionary ideologies during the nation-building period of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Understanding this historical context is crucial to recognizing and combating similar forms of discrimination today.
Another article claiming that the recently release statistics states that in 70% of the cases, Roma are involved in criminal actions. This is a misreading of the statisticts, but clearly a filed day for populists. All stereotypes are there.
Bad.
Another one of those articles. This time, about residents who are “terrorised”, “trembling”, when faced by Roma “Criminality”. Clearly, there is a problem in some neighbourhoods, but such articles will not help solving the issues.
A rehash of an old story. It says that 84% of the Greeks involved in theft and burglaries in 2002 were Roma.
Well, other say these are migrants, and so on.
Bad.
A horrible article relating the violent burglary of a German’s house near Corinth, Greece. This is the start of a diatribe against Roma, with all stereotypes, advocating stricter laws, deprivation of civil rights, and cuts of social benefits.
Bad.
of Greeks involved in thefts and burglaries are Roma” and requires the state to deal with “the systemic delinquency of the Roma”.
He further says that “they used to be mostly vagrants, employed in seasonal agricultural work, basket weaving, petty trading and peddlers, almost all of them uneducated and with slight delinquency, mainly petty theft”.
So basically, all Roma are thieves since immemorial times.
Not a word about the segregation and racism, about the failure of the state to improve housing conditions and so on.
We will pass on the measures advocated by the article like police control of the slums etc.
The project “Empowerment of young Roma women in matters of health, prevention and human rights” implemented as part of the Active citizens fund program sees Roma schoolgirls return to their camps and teach other women a great lesson about human rights, health and domestic violence.
17-year-old student Katerina Mukani from Zefyri was one of the students trained by experts to give a great lesson on human rights, health and domestic violence to the rest of the Roma women back in the camp where she lives. She says: “My daily life in Zefyri is boring and I feel trapped. I think a lot about my life after the Panhellenic Games, while many nights I dream of the moment when I will leave Athens, even far from Greece. Educating other Roma women helped me a lot to understand that my dreams and all of us are possible because we all deserve something better. None of us should be left on the sidelines.”
Spyros Bakas is 24 years old, he grew up and lives in Dendropotamos (a neighbourhood of Thessaloniki) and for the last two years he has been studying Journalism, while working at a Creative Employment Center there. Spyros is the first journalist in Thessaloniki who openly declares that he is Roma, or rather Gypsy.
Many Roma in Greece as in other countries simply do not say they are Roma, simply to avoid being confronted with racist stereotypes. He chose to out himself, bravo!
Greek Roma rioted in Greece after a young Roma was killed by the police. He was the third one in as many years.
A third young Rom was killed by the police in Athens after a police chase. According to the police, the gun went off when the young Rom tried to grab a pistol from the police.
He is the third young Roma killed by the police in Greece in as many years.
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