Category Archives: News Western Europe

Roma in Crete

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Roma in Crete

The president of the Pan-Cretan Association of Greek Roma, Athanasios Katsaris, criticizes the Municipality of Heraklion and the State for the poor living conditions in the Roma settlement of Nea Alikarnassos, Crete, which he claims have remained unchanged for years.

He describes the living conditions as “miserable” and “inhumane,” stating that there is a lack of necessary care for the public health of the residents, who are citizens entitled to equal treatment.

Katsaris plans to protest at the next Heraklion Municipal Council meeting, demanding specific commitments and timelines to address the issues affecting the dignity and health of the settlement’s residents.

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.

AfD and Roma

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AfD and Roma

AfD politicians Norbert Emmerich and Enxhi Seli-Zacharias were filmed giving brooms to Sinti and Roma in Gelsenkirchen, instructing them to sweep the sidewalk. The video, which was shared on social media, has since been removed, and some Sinti and Roma reported feeling intimidated by the politicians.

Other political parties, including SPD, FDP, and Greens, condemned the video as inhumane.

What are you wondering about?

Crime in Greece

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Crime in Greece

Another article whereby crime in Greece is basically a Roma problem… According to the article, two criminal organizations, primarily composed of Roma members, were dismantled in Athens and Piraeus, targeting expensive jewelry and watches.

The groups operated with a high level of professionalism, using coded language and disguises to commit thefts, resulting in a total loot of around two million euros.

Authorities emphasize the importance of public awareness regarding suspicious phone calls from scammers posing as utility workers or insurance agents.

Let’s talk about real criminalirty and the embezelment of EU agro funds at all levels of the Greek government …

Portugal and Roma

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Portugal and Roma

DJ Jorge Syllvah performed at the National Gypsy People’s Day in Lisbon, highlighting the challenges faced by the Roma community in Portugal, including racism and discrimination.

The rise of the far-right party Chega has intensified xenophobic rhetoric against the Roma, leading to increased public discrimination and a push for community organization and activism.

Despite historical marginalization, the Roma community in Portugal is gaining visibility and representation, with recent legal victories against hate speech and a growing presence in education and political activism.

The traveling exhibition “Viagem Cigana” was inaugurated in Fornelos, Portugal, aimed at combating stereotypes and promoting knowledge about the Roma community.

The outdoor exhibition features 20 panels showcasing the origins of the Roma people, their arrival in Portugal, aspects of their culture, and testimonies of integration in the labor market.

The exhibition will continue to various locations before concluding in October in the city center, where collected testimonies will be presented.

Oecumenical Initiative

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Oecumenical Initiative

Representatives of the Ecumenical Community presented a model for social inclusion of Roma at a meeting of European networks in Oslo, focusing on combating extreme poverty.

The initiative aimed to exchange experiences and establish effective methods for fighting poverty and social isolation through concrete integration models.

The article expresses skepticism about the effectiveness of such models, suggesting they often remain theoretical and do not address the deep-rooted issues of poverty and prejudice in European societies.

Brawl in Hospital

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Brawl in Hospital

Several articles in the Greek press about a brawl in a hospital where family members of a Rom protested when his cat scan was delayed due to other emergencies. This resulted in increased police patrols, but to no arrests.

Bad.

Roma Identity and Archive Infrastructure

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Roma Identity and Archive Infrastructure

The Roma Identity & Archive Infrastructure was introduced in The Hague as a solution for Roma individuals lacking sufficient documentation to prove their identity and heritage.

The initiative aims to create a reliable population register for Roma, enabling official documentation issuance and assisting government agencies in identifying individuals of Roma descent.

The project seeks to expand globally, providing support to Roma communities and foreign authorities in identity verification and documentation processes.

In our view, this is dangerous, and will not bring much. Having legal documents is the duty of the states, and has nothing to do with Roma. As for the Romani identity, well, how and who will decide?

Forced Labour

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Forced Labour

Historical evidence shows that Roma from Burgenland were forced to work on the Reichsautobahn during the Nazi era, with new research pinpointing specific locations of these labor camps.

Writer Ludwig Laher has been investigating Nazi forced labor and the persecution of Roma and Sinti, utilizing new archival sources to shed light on these historical events.

Events organized by Roma-VHS Burgenland aim to raise awareness about the history of forced labor and keep the memory of the victims alive, highlighting the ongoing relevance of this topic today.

Austrian Minorities

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Austrian Minorities

The Austrian National Council has made a significant step in recognizing the importance of ethnic groups in Burgenland by constitutionalizing all six recognized indigenous groups, including Croats, Hungarians, and Roma.

Philip Juranich, a Green Party representative and member of the Burgenland Croatian community, emphasizes that this recognition enhances visibility, respect, and appreciation for these groups.

A new annual report on ethnic groups will be introduced to assess their overall situation, particularly in language and culture, and to ensure greater involvement of ethnic councils in the parliamentary process.

Greece and Evictions

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Greece and Evictions

The Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner has raised concerns about the eviction risk faced by a Roma community in Greece, highlighting potential human rights violations.

Michael O’Flaherty emphasized that informal Roma settlements can be considered homes under the European Convention on Human Rights, and evictions without alternative housing could infringe on their rights.

The case involves five Roma citizens alleging violations of their rights due to an administrative protocol aimed at evicting them from their long-term settlement, risking their access to essential services and security.

Germany and Post-War Discrimination

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Germany and Post-War Discrimination

Historian Stefanie Schüler-Springorum discusses the ongoing discrimination and persecution in post-Nazi Germany, highlighting that groups such as Jews, Sinti, Roma, and homosexuals continued to face significant challenges and societal exclusion.

She emphasizes that while the end of the Nazi regime in 1945 marked a liberation for some, it did not equate to freedom for all, as many groups remained marginalized and subjected to ongoing discrimination.

Schüler-Springorum points out that remnants of these prejudices persist in contemporary German society, with issues of antisemitism, racism, and homophobia still prevalent, reflecting a deep-rooted notion of who is considered a “true German.”

In paralle, the German government has established an independent commission to address the injustices faced by Sinti and Roma in Germany and East Germany after 1945, implementing a key recommendation from the Independent Commission on Antiziganism.

The commission aims to comprehensively document the injustices, include unheard perspectives, and integrate the experiences of affected individuals and their descendants into German memory culture.

This initiative is part of a broader European movement towards state-led processes of historical reckoning, acknowledging Germany’s unique historical responsibility regarding the genocide of Sinti and Roma.

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…

Remember

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Remember

The Karlsruhe city council has named a square near Kapellenstraße as Familie-Reinhardt-Platz to honor the Sinti and Roma victims of the Nazis. There was consensus on the need for a memorial, but disagreement on the location, with some council members finding the chosen site inadequate.

The proposal was supported by multiple political parties, while the CDU suggested an alternative name and location for the memorial.

Djelem Djelem Festival

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Djelem Djelem Festival

The 13th Djelem Djelem Arts and Culture Festival in Dortmund features the Roma Ball concert, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Romano Than association, which advocates for the visibility and empowerment of Roma communities in the Ruhr area.

The concert aims to celebrate milestones, challenges overcome, and the solidarity networks built over the past decade, promoting an inclusive and open space for cultural exchange.

The band “Amen Roma” will perform, blending traditional Roma music with modern influences, symbolizing self-determination and community identity.

Austria and Racism

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Austria and Racism

The UN special rapporteur on racism, Ashwini K.P., reports that far-right ideologies have entered the mainstream in Austria, highlighting an incident involving Ukrainian Roma children. Despite existing regulations and organizations aimed at combating racism in Austria, their efforts are fragmented and threatened by budget cuts, leaving deep-rooted racism unaddressed.

A comprehensive, human rights-based anti-racism strategy is necessary to improve the situation, as racism is prevalent in Austrian immigrant society.

Integration?

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Integration?

A new initiative in Patras aims to support and integrate Roma communities through the establishment of a ‘Roma Neighborhood Center’ with a budget of €797,513.77, as part of the Western Greece 2021-2027 program.

The initiative focuses on direct engagement with Roma families to identify and address their challenges, particularly in areas with high Roma populations facing social issues and crime.

The center will utilize music as a tool for social change, promoting education, community participation, and positive role models for Roma children, in collaboration with distinguished Roma artists.

So basically, they are using stereotypes … So far, this has not shown real success anywhere.

Butchu Festival

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Butchu Festival

The Roma-Butschu festival in Burgenland celebrates the traditions of the Roma community, featuring performances from various ethnic groups, including Croatian and Hungarian ensembles.

Notable performances included the Leon Berger Band and Romano Rath, with a special appearance by the Slovenian band Romano Glauso, who emphasized the need for Roma unity against discrimination.

The next Roma-Butschu is planned for next year at a new venue that will enhance cultural exchange and community interaction among different ethnic groups.

Roma Gatherings

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Roma Gatherings

The presence of Roma in public spaces in Mytilene has reached an intolerable level for residents and visitors, leading to public health and safety concerns due to poor hygiene conditions.

The Mayor of Rhodes, Alexandros Koliadis, and Deputy Mayor Kostas Chalkias visited the Dodecanese Police Directorate to discuss concerns about gatherings of Roma on the island.

The municipal authorities are worried about the emergence of new unauthorized gathering places for Roma and are considering involving the Prosecutor’s Office if necessary.

Bad …

UK and Roma

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UK and Roma

Alexandra Bahor, a Roma activist in Liverpool, advocates for Roma rights and challenges stereotypes about Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller (GRT) communities, emphasizing their diversity and unique needs.

She highlights the importance of meaningful partnerships between GRT communities and organizations, advocating for their involvement in decision-making processes.

Alexandra calls for recognition of anti-Gypsyism as a specific form of racism and encourages individuals to question stereotypes and listen to Roma voices to foster understanding and change.

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