Category Archives: Greece

Interview with Paul Hagouel

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Dr. Paul Isaac Hagouel, president of the Roma Genocide Committee at the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) spoke to APE-MPE on the occasion of the Roma Holocaust Remembrance Day on August 2nd. Himself the son of an Auschwitz survivor, explained that “the oblivion of the Roma and Sinti Genocide perpetuated prejudices and stereotypes about the Roma which, in turn, fostered discrimination and unfounded and at the same time harmful hatred of the ‘other’ – Anti-Gypsyism”.

Thus, the IHRA, a transnational organization, constituted by a combination of experts and top diplomats from the member states, recommended the creation of the Commission on the Genocide of the Roma in 2007. This interdisciplinary IHRA Committee aims to raise awareness of prejudice against Roma and Sinti and highlight the link between the history of persecution and the current situation in Roma communities which, continue to experience the manifestations of stereotypes, prejudices and, quite often, (racial) hatred.

Thessaloniki: Evicted

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Thessaloniki Appellate Court judgement of 31 January 2022 reversed the decision of the lower court not to evict Roma families from the “Tsairia” area of Thermaikos Municipality near Thessaloniki. In February 2020, following the initial trial for eviction by the Mayor of Thermaikos, Roma won a reprieve.

Let’s now see what happens.

Thessaloniki: More on the Eviction

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The European Court of Human Rights accepted the application of the Roma who are facing eviction following the reversal of an earlier judgement on appeal. In fact the court asked Greece to halt the eviction and asked whether alternative lodging solutions are available.

Let’s hope.

Greece and Roma

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Tsirpas, the Greek PM, met Roma representatives. According to him, his government made good progress on Integration…
Well, lots remain to be done…

– Greece’s gypsies should not be viewed as second class citizens: Greek PM. In: Greek City Times. 09.04.2019. https://greekcitytimes.com/2019/04/09/greeces-gypsies-should-not-be-viewed-as-second-class-citizens-greek-pm/ [link-preview url=”https://greekcitytimes.com/2019/04/09/greeces-gypsies-should-not-be-viewed-as-second-class-citizens-greek-pm/”]

Turkey and Roma

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Testimonies of the population exchange between Greece and Turkey following the war. Greece expelled Moslems and Turkey expelled Christians. Among the Moslems in Greece were most of the local Roma – for example the Sepečides – who are now living in Izmir.

– Roma people tell of ancestors’ 1923 ‘population exchange’ stories. In: Daily News. 13.03.2019. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/roma-people-tell-of-ancestors-1923-population-exchange-stories-141853 [link-preview url=”http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/roma-people-tell-of-ancestors-1923-population-exchange-stories-141853″]

Greece and Moslems

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An article about a small town in the North East of Greece with a large Turkish speaking Moslem minority which comprises Turks, but also Roma and Pomaks, the latter being Slavs converted to Muslim religion.

– A Komotini, la minorité musulmane sert de baromètre des relations gréco-turques. In: Euronews. 04.02.2019. https://fr.euronews.com/2019/02/05/a-komotini-la-minorite-musulmane-sert-de-barometre-des-relations-greco-turques [link-preview url=”https://fr.euronews.com/2019/02/05/a-komotini-la-minorite-musulmane-sert-de-barometre-des-relations-greco-turques”]

We Don’t Need This …

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The type of articles you don’t need: In the Ukrainian press, a report of a fight between Roma in the Transcarpathian village of Podvinohradov after the “election of a Roma baron”… And then the report of a new “Gypsy camp” will be created in Kyiev, and finally also a report of a shooting at a Roma camp in Greece (we reported on this).
So, all good news about Roma and of course, they are dangerous.

– ЧП на Закарпатье: группа ромов устроила массовую драку, причина впечатляет. In: Politeka. 08.08.2018. https://politeka.net/news/society/697312-chp-na-zakarpate-gruppa-romov-ustroila-massovuju-draku-prichina-vpechatljaet/ [link-preview url=”https://politeka.net/news/society/697312-chp-na-zakarpate-gruppa-romov-ustroila-massovuju-draku-prichina-vpechatljaet/”]

Greece: Shootings

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13 people were wounded in Rhodes following a shooting near a Roma camp. Apparently, three Roma in a car stopped near the camp and opened fire.
We really don’t need that …

– Gunshots injure 13 in Roma camp in Rhodes. In: Ekathimerini. 31.07.2018. http://www.ekathimerini.com/231292/article/ekathimerini/news/gunshots-injure-13-in-roma-camp-in-rhodes [link-preview url=”http://www.ekathimerini.com/231292/article/ekathimerini/news/gunshots-injure-13-in-roma-camp-in-rhodes”]

Greece: Killer in Jail

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The killer of a 13 years old Roma girl has been placed in custody. He claims it has been an accident.
Well – he drove to the Roma camp and fired a deadly shot …

– Roma girl’s killer transferred to Korydallos jail. In: Ekatimerini. 14.06.2018. http://www.ekathimerini.com/229657/article/ekathimerini/news/roma-girls-killer-transferred-to-korydallos-jail [link-preview url=”http://www.ekathimerini.com/229657/article/ekathimerini/news/roma-girls-killer-transferred-to-korydallos-jail”]

Greece: Murder

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A young Roma girl was killed in central Greece. Allegedly, it was an accident.

– Shepherd accused of killing Roma girl placed under tight security. In: Ekathimerini. 12.06.2018. http://www.ekathimerini.com/229540/article/ekathimerini/news/shepherd-accused-of-killing-roma-girl-placed-under-tight-security [link-preview url=”http://www.ekathimerini.com/229540/article/ekathimerini/news/shepherd-accused-of-killing-roma-girl-placed-under-tight-security”]

Greece – Shots

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Someone shot at the police near a Roma camp in Athens. It is not sure whether the shooters were Roma or if it just simply happened there.
The police is actively searching for them.

– Gunmen Shoot at Greek Police Near Athens Roma Camp. In: Greece Reporter. 17.05.2018. http://greece.greekreporter.com/2018/05/17/gunmen-shoot-at-greek-police-near-athens-roma-camp/
– Shots fired at police outside Athens Roma camp. In: Ekathimerini. 17.05.2018. http://www.ekathimerini.com/228737/article/ekathimerini/news/shots-fired-at-police-outside-athens-roma-camp [link-preview url=”http://greece.greekreporter.com/2018/05/17/gunmen-shoot-at-greek-police-near-athens-roma-camp/ “]

NO …

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An essay by Assistant Professor of Pedagogy – Intercultural Education at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki – Greece. His view is that there is no such thing as “Roma” and that Roma are a collection of distinct groups.
Well, we are leaning more towards the theories of Roma Nation that he cites as being wrong …

– How Europe Gets Roma Culture And Identity Wrong. In: Social Europe. 30.04.2018. https://www.socialeurope.eu/roma-culture-and-identity [link-preview url=”https://www.socialeurope.eu/roma-culture-and-identity”]

Access to Justice

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There is a meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee of Experts on Roma and Traveller Issues (CAHROM) from Bulgaria, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Romania and Spain in Helsinki (Finland), on 21-23 March 2018, to discuss access to justice for Roma, and especially for Romnja.

– CAHROM thematic visit on Roma and Traveller’s access to justice (with a focus on women). In: Council of Europe. 14.03.2018. https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/cahrom-thematic-visit-on-roma-and-traveller-s-access-to-justice-with-a-focus-on-women- [link-preview url=”https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/cahrom-thematic-visit-on-roma-and-traveller-s-access-to-justice-with-a-focus-on-women-“]

Greece – Racism and Reaction

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State Minister Christoforos Vernardakis slammed three incidents in Greece this week. First the dismantling of a Neo-Nazi cell, then a verbal attack against a Syriza MP by a Golden Dawn (extreme right) deputy, and finally the one which concerns Roma:

New Democracy’s deputy Athanassios Davakis stated that he forbade any Roma or gypsy to vote for him …

No comments.

– Greek Minister Slams ‘Rhetoric of Hatred’. In: Greek Reporter. 09.03.2018. http://greece.greekreporter.com/2018/03/09/greek-minister-slams-rhetoric-of-hatred/ [link-preview url=”http://greece.greekreporter.com/2018/03/09/greek-minister-slams-rhetoric-of-hatred/”]

Roma, Work, and Slovenia

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Although the high rate of Roma unemployment in Central and South-Eastern Europe is often attributed to a low level of education and professional skills, one of the more important reasons is discrimination that prevents Roma from entering the labour market on an equal footing.
Integration into the labour market should be a priority in promoting a full social inclusion. Some steps towards this goal were made by the recently completed two-year international Working Roma project, which included the Novo Mesto Society for the Development of Volunteer Work.
As project coordinator Tina Cigler says, in the Working Roma project, partners from nine European countries have tried to develop new tools to prevent intolerance against Roma in the labour market, thereby increasing their employment prospects. The tools and recommendations were developed on the basis of study visits by partner countries, consultations within different groups and good practices that we detected in our partner countries: Italy, Portugal, Spain, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Greece, Malta and the United Kingdom.
Let’s see.

– Se zaposlovanju Romov obetajo boljši časi? In: Dolenski List. 28.02.2018. http://www.dolenjskilist.si/2018/02/28/191553/novice/dolenjska/Se_zaposlovanju_Romov_obetajo_boljsi_casi/ [link-preview url=”http://www.dolenjskilist.si/2018/02/28/191553/novice/dolenjska/Se_zaposlovanju_Romov_obetajo_boljsi_casi/”]

Greece: Measles

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There have been more than 700 cases of measles among Roma in Greece so far this year, a testimony to the fact that the vaccination rates among Roma are very low.

– Roma at high risk of measles due to low vacination rates. In: Ekathimerini. 13.12.2017. http://www.ekathimerini.com/224120/article/ekathimerini/news/roma-at-high-risk-of-measles-due-to-low-vacination-rates [link-preview url=”http://www.ekathimerini.com/224120/article/ekathimerini/news/roma-at-high-risk-of-measles-due-to-low-vacination-rates”]

Greece: Clashes

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There were severe clashes between the police and Roma north of Athens following the death of a 62 years old Rom in police custody.

– Nine officers injured after Roma clashes. In: Ekathimerini. 13.12.2017. http://www.ekathimerini.com/224165/article/ekathimerini/news/nine-officers-injured-after-roma-clashes [link-preview url=”http://www.ekathimerini.com/224165/article/ekathimerini/news/nine-officers-injured-after-roma-clashes”]

Greece, Measles, and Roma

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It seems that Roma are the most likely victims of measles in Greece. 7 out of 10 cases in the country affect them.
It says a lot about their living conditions …

– Greek Roma worst hit by measles outbreak, KEELPNO says. In: Ekathimerini. 05.11.2017. http://www.ekathimerini.com/222970/article/ekathimerini/news/greek-roma-worst-hit-by-measles-outbreak-keelpno-says [link-preview url=”http://www.ekathimerini.com/222970/article/ekathimerini/news/greek-roma-worst-hit-by-measles-outbreak-keelpno-says”]

Greece: Resettlement

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The Greek Parliament passed a resolution this week calling for the resettlement of thousands of Roma into 70 new camps, without any consultation …
BAD

Roma community reacts to resettlement plan. In: Ekathimerini. 28.07.2017. http://www.ekathimerini.com/220449/article/ekathimerini/news/roma-community-reacts-to-resettlement-plan [link-preview url=”http://www.ekathimerini.com/220449/article/ekathimerini/news/roma-community-reacts-to-resettlement-plan”]

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