Category Archives: News Western Europe

“Djelem Djelem” Festival

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“Djelem Djelem” Festival

For the twelfth time, the “Djelem Djelem” cultural festival in Dortmund, Germany, invites visitors to numerous events in September. At Germany’s largest Sinti and Roma cultural festival, visitors can immerse themselves in the art, culture, history, and present of the Sinte*zze and Roma.

From September 1st to 15th, the Sintiand Roma cultural festival will focus on themes and events surrounding art, history, and the present that affect the Roma. The festival invites visitors to experience and celebrate these cultures with concerts, exhibitions, films, training courses, and encounters. Most of the events are free of charge. The festival is organized by the City of Dortmund together with numerous partners, including AWO Dortmund, Romano Than e.V., and Keuning.haus.

Conference on Genocide Research

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Conference on Genocide Research

In mid-September, a 3 days Czech-German conference on the current challenges facing genocide research will be held in Lety. Entitled “The legacy of Romani and Sinti survivors across the generations”, the conference will bring together activists, the descendants of such survivors, historians, researchers, and representatives of public institutions to discuss current forms of commemorating this tragedy, the ethical challenges connected to researching the genocide of the Roma and Sinti, the intergenerational transmission of trauma, and memory policy.

“Gypsy Compound”

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“Gypsy Compound”

An archaeological dig is taking place in the New Forest in the UK on the site of a compound where Roma were forced settled. The compound was later replaced by a ‘Gypsy Rehabilitation Centre’ which says a lot about the ideological background of those initiatives.

Antigypsyism in Germany

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Antigypsyism in Germany

The German State of Thuringia has decided not to renew the position of an Antiziganism Commissioner in the state. Rational behind this decision, is that the “broad-based strategy” of “integration policy for all people” does not require a dedicated representative for Sinti and Roma.

Well, this decision is being criticised, with right.

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

News in France are dominated with the relocation of Roma in one neighbourhood of Nantes. Locals are fighting against this, and Roma who are being expelled of one camp went to court, claiming that the expulsions are illegal. In brief, chaos.

Other than that, an article about the forgotten (in France) genocide of the Roma.

Roma Camp in Naples

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Roma Camp in Naples

A tendentious article about Roma camps in Naples. The reality is described correctly, the background is totally ignored. Why Roma were parked in segregated camps overseen by the police, why the mafia was involved in this, and now, again, there is collective guilt of all Roma.

Italy: Death of a Passerby

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Italy: Death of a Passerby

We already reported on it, but Roma youngsters stole a car from French tourists, and while fleeing, killed a 71-year-old passerby.  And of course, all Roma are guilty by association.

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

Most of the numerous articles this weak about Roma in France are dedicated to the creation of a new camp in Doulon, Nantes, set to temporarily house Roma who where displaced by the closure of other camps in the region. Neighbours complain that they were not consulted and they vocally object to Roma living next to their houses.

Not a single article raises the questions of why these Roma who have been in France for a long time need to live in such camps, and not one asks why the reactions of the future neighbours are so based on stereotypes.

 

Antigyspyism in Germany

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Antigyspyism in Germany

The Thuringian state government will not reappoint the position of antigypsyism commissioner. As a spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice told MDR Thuringia, the state government views the integration of Sinti and Roma as a cross-departmental task. All ministries—including education, labor, health, and housing—are responsible for ensuring equal access.

This is not going to help …

Germany and Roma Migrants

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Germany and Roma Migrants

A Berlin hotel housing Sinti and Roma has been a crime hotspot for years. Now, the spokesperson for the Berlin Police Union (GdP), Benjamin Jendro, has advocated for revoking Schengen travel rights for criminal EU foreigners. “We need to talk about perhaps not necessarily creating incentives for these people to come here,” Jendro told “Welt TV.” “We’re talking about criminal offenses. People are deliberately sent to steal. We’re talking about disturbances of the peace, physical assault, and threats.”

Bad.

Italy: An accident and Politics

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Italy: An accident and Politics

Four Roma children aged between 11 and 13 stole a car, raced through Milan, and ran over an elderly woman, killing her. The accident shocked the whole of Italy, partly because the children are Roma. Lega leader Salvini wants to demolish entire Roma camps.

On Social Media, Salvini wrote:  “The Roma camp must be cleared immediately, and then razed to the ground, after years of theft and violence, pseudo ‘parents’ must be arrested, and parental rights must be revoked. Mayor Sala and the left, are you there???”

Bad.

Italy and Roma

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Italy and Roma

An article about the fact that parking Roma in camps or razing them is not going to resolve the issue and will not bring children to school. In fact, most children in those camps do not go to school at all.

Bad, but nothing new in Italy.

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

The usual in French news … A camp near Nantes in Western France will be closed as it is in an area slated for renaturalization. Neddless to say, nothing is planned to relocate these people. In Angers, Roma refuse to leave their camp in spite of a court order. In Toulouse in the South, the site of a former camp is being cleaned out. What will happen there is open.

France and Travellers

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France and Travellers

In the Vosges Mountains, Travelers have set up camp with around 400 caravans on agricultural meadows. After years without major problems, the situation escalated this time as both sides sought an agreement – apparently failing due to a lack of consent from the farmers. The farmers took drastic measures to evict the unwelcome guests: they sprayed manure.

Bad.

French Chronicle …

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French Chronicle …

A first in the French press, and a welcomed one. For the first time since we actually do these press reviews, the French press not only speaks about the Genocide of the Roma during the Holocaust, but also for the French involvement, and that it happened there too.

The rest of the news, unfortunately, is more of the usual: Families facing expulsion in Nantes; the closure of a camp near Toulouse, but for a change, people finding new lodgings; some travelers camping near Toulouse; and the death of a young Roma boy who was killed by a passing car while crossing the road.

Près d’Annemasse : il s’arrête pour une pause pipi, traverse la route et se fait mortellement percuter. In: M Annecy. 01.08.2025. https://mannecy.fr/news/locales/105106/pres-d-annemasse-il-s-arrete-pour-une-pause-pipi-traverse-la-route-et-se-fait-mortellement-percuter

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