Monthly Archives: März 2014

19.03.2014 Fire in Rroma camp in Montgeron

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Numerous French newspapers report on the fire in Rroma camp in Montgeron. The fire broke out in the night from 16th to the 17th of March. About half the dwellings were destroyed by the fire. Fortunately, nobody of the approximately 140 residents, including 50 children, was hurt. The residents of the camp were relocated to a nearby gym. A planned eviction of the camp was scheduled for the end of March 2014. Rroma shanty-settlements are regularly the scene of incidents such as fires. However, there is disagreement over the question as to whether the fires are indeed the result of insufficient safety precautions, as repeatedly emphasized by the authorities, or whether political intentions and therefore arson are behind it (20 minutes in 2014, Le Parisien 2014 Le Républicain 2014).

19.03.2014 Fassin: residents are not automatically against Rroma

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French sociologist Eric Fassin writes an article against the media which is often equating residents with Rroma-phobics. This viewpoint was suggested and strengthened by the French media and nationalists: “Why this astonishment? It means that residents are not perceived as bobos [bourgeois-bohème] (and vice versa) – neither sociologically nor politically. Since the campaign of Nicolas Sarkozy against prostitution during the mayoral elections in 2001, the “resident” is, the new figure of the nation.” Local residents are not a homogeneous mass of Rroma-phobics as stated by the Front National and the other right-wing populists. Rather, the social reality is determined by heterogeneity. Also the people who are committed to the Rroma and their rights are ordinary locals: “In short, it is high time to change our socio-political vocabulary. The bobos [bourgeois-bohème] are also local residents. Conversely, there are good neighbours whose commitment is stimulated by pity and indignation and not by bitterness. Finally, we need to stop believing that voters and the elected governmental majority are […] free of Roma-phobia.” Fassin addresses with his article an important topic in the public debate about Rroma that so far has received too little attention. Up till now, medias were almost exclusively dominated by articles talking about a confrontation between local residents and migrant Rroma. That this is not the norm cannot be stressed often enough. More on the subject can be read in Fassin’s book Rome et Riverains: Une politique Municipale de la race.

19.03.2014 Commemorating the Rroma-Holocaust

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The Giessener-Allgemeine (2014) reports on an event to commemorate the Rroma of Giessen murdered by the Nazis. The historian Engbring-Romang talked about the persisting prejudice against the minority and the poor recognition of the exclusion and persecution of the Rroma. As a particular concern, the historian sees social acceptance of pejorative stereotypes: “More than 40 percent of Germans do not want to live in the neighborhood of Sinti and Roma. According to a survey by the Allensbach Institute – in 2011. “And those are only the ones that adhere to their prejudices”, Engbring-Romang the reviews the result.” It is therefore the task of the present society to break with deadlocked prejudices and replace them with independent, critical thinking and empathy. The fate of the fourteen Sinti, who were deported to the extermination camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau on the 16th of March 1943, remains unknown to this day, the newspaper states.

Helwig replaces this lack of clarity with a detailed analysis of the history of Johanna Klein and her family. On March 16th 1943, the parents and six siblings of Klein were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Klein herself could stay in Giessen because she suffered from diphtheria at the time. After her recovery, she was also deported. It is thanks to the “atypical racial characteristics” in eugenic terms that Klein was not murdered like the rest of her family in the concentration camp: “My blonde hair and blue eyes saved me”, says Johanna Klein. […] “Otherwise, I too would have gone through the oven”, the statement bursts out of the 84-year-old, while tears run down her cheeks. “I have to think about it every day.” Because then, her younger siblings Anna and Friedrich remained behind.  “This plagues me to this day.” Both were murdered in Auschwitz-Birkenau as were previously the parents and the three siblings Karl, Mathilde, and Wilhelmine.” (Helwig 2014).

Several German newspapers report about the death of 91-year-old Rrom and Holocaust survivor Reinhard Florian. Florian was interned into the concentration camp Mauthausen in 1941. This was followed by forced labour in the camps Auschwitz, Monowitz, Rydultau and Blechhammer. Florian was present as a contemporary witness in the post-war years and “a living example that [the] memory of the crimes of the Nazis is an obligation for the present.” With the exception of a brother and the father, all eighteen members of his family were murdered. In October 2012, he was guest of honour at the inauguration of the monument to the Rroma murdered under the Nazis in Berlin (compare Bild 2014, Focus online 2014, Main-Netz 2014, Merkur online 2014).

19.03.2014 Al Jazerra: Romania’s rich Rroma

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Leban (2014) reports on wealthy Rroma in Buzescu, in the south of Romania. The city has approximately 35% of Rroma. The photo report provides a counterpart to classical notions of impoverished Rroma, but simultaneously strengthens stereotype notions of Rroma palaces and unfair business practices: “Many of these Roma run large businesses, but they do not specify which ones. And when the mafia comes up in discussion, Costica Stancu, an affluent Roma, said “Mafia? What Mafia? The money comes from work – no begging or other trades.” In Buzescu, omerta – an old code of honour that emphasises silence – reigns.” Therefore, Leban’s report cannot be called a success. What would be desirable is an article about actually invisible Rroma that do not conform to one of the two extremes and live a quiet and integrated life. The fact that the article promotes stereotypical notions of Rroma kings involved in corrupt businesses can be read in the comment column.

14.03.2014 The Rroma build part of French Society

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Vincent (2014) reports on an agreement that the French government has concluded with the national society for social housing (Adoma). In contrast to Sarkozy’s government, Vincent argues, the socialist government slowly but surely realizes that the Rroma debate is not an issue of migration but a problem of housing. However, there is a problem with the plan to move Rroma from the camps into social housing: in the Ile-de-France, where according to an assessment two-thirds of the immigrant Rroma stay, too few apartments are available. The temporary allocation into hotels in the agglomeration often hinders the schooling of the children and the autonomy of families. The so-called “insertion villages” are not a long-term solution and are also very costly. On behalf of the government and the society for social housing, the sub-prefect Jérôme Normand now conducts a survey on the situation in the slums and the insertion villages. With the collected information on the population of the settlements, the allocation to social housing is expected to be better coordinated. However, a fundamental problem remains the financing of the social housing: “The great weakness of all these initiatives is their funding. The funds from which Adoma has profited, will have to be rapidly increased on the basis of urgency loans. The budget that was allocated to the integration policy, that in particular finances the French courses, fell by 3% in 2014 [ … ].”

14.03.2014 The integration of the Rroma and the French mayoral elections

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Bourgeot (2014) reports on the plans of the socialist mayor of Roubaix, Pierre Duboix, to build a second “integration village” for immigrant Rroma. Duboix pointed to his plans during a discussion about the communal life. The location of the village is not set yet. With these plans, the socialist mayor offers a target for his conservative rival, UMP politician Guillaume Delbar, who argues against Duboixs plans : “I want to remind you that the creation of ghettos assembles an extremely precarious and dangerous population. [ … ] The solution of the Rroma problem is the integration of those who really want to integrate themselves, not the creation of ghettos.” The debate on the willingness of Rroma to integrate is conducted extremely one-sided in French politics, in particular during upcoming elections. Many politicians, from the socialist as wells as from the conservative camp, allege the Rroma lacking will to integrate. With these assumptions they complicate a successful integration of the Rroma. That most Rroma want to integrate and lead a normal life, is beyond question.

In Saint-Denis, a dispute has evolved over the voting rights of a local Rroma group of 80 people. The socialist candidate Mathieu Hanotin has filed a complaint at the local district court questioning the legitimacy of the voting rights of the immigrant Rroma, who are accused of not having a proof of residency. The current communist mayor of Saint-Denis, Didier Paillard, meanwhile rejects Hanotin’s accusations that registering these Rroma is electoral fraud: “But Hanotin pushes his accusations further. He suspects that the Rroma application was coordinated by confidants of the mayor, to rebut the suspicion of “kick back” in exchange for their votes” (Equy 2014).

14.03.2014 “Students should learn more about Sinti and Roma”

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The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (2014) reports on the plan of the ministry of culture of the state of Hessen, to expand the teaching on the history of the Rroma. Students should in the future be better informed about the centuries of persecution and exclusion of the Rroma. Therefore, the ministry of culture, together with the association of Hessian Sinti and Rroma, has created a brochure that will be distributed to all schools of the state till summer. In addition, the Hessen government will increase its support for the minority: “It is important that Gypsies can preserve their ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and religious identity”, said chief minister Volker Bouffier (CDU) in Wiesbaden at the signing of the agreement with the national association of Sinti and Roma. The paper addresses, among other things, the need to end discrimination and to promote the cultural identity and language”. Knowledge about the history and culture of the Rroma is often permeated with misinformation. Therefore, an objective, differentiated teaching about the Rroma is anything but an easy task. The prime minister of Hessians, Volker Bouffier, announced in his statement that the country is now fulfilling its historical responsibility. Adam Strauss, chairman of the Hessian association of Sinti and Rroma, called it shameful that many Rroma still keep their identity a secret out of fear of being discriminated. This must change now (see Focus online 2014, von Bebenburg 2014, Journal Frankfurt 2014, Die Welt 2014).

14.03.2014 Stereotypes: Rroma and begging in the canton of Vaud

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Jean-Pierre Tabin, professor of sociology at the College of social work and health in Lausanne, published a book about the policy towards the Roma in the canton of Vaud. The publication is based on research that was conducted between 2011 and 2013 in the streets of Lausanne. Tabin and his team studied who begs, who gives and how beggars live. He qualifies clichéd ideas that one earns a lot of money with begging, as well as stereotypes about Rroma, who are not automatically parts of organized begging networks. In the public discourse begging is often deemed a crime that needs to be punished. Through this line of reasoning poverty, poverty-migration, and the causes that lead to poverty are criminalized, Tabin argues (RTS 2014).

14.03.2014 Pogrom against Rroma in Naples

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Roberts (2014) reports on a pogrom against Rroma in Naples, with little sympathy for the Rroma side. In response to an alleged attack by two Rroma on a 16-year-old Italian girl, a 50-person mob rushed to the local Rroma camp and threatened the residents with stones. Only the intervention of the police prevented the worst. Roberts gives the last word to the mayor of the fourth district, Armando Coppola. In his statement, he shows no sympathy for the Rroma: “Residents have already had to put up with thefts and obscene acts by the gypsies who are inclined to urinate in the street. […] I have requested the council to order the immediate eviction of the camp. Otherwise the justifiable exasperation of the citizens of Poggioreale will no longer be controllable.” The comments section of the article is filled with racist remarks from readers who praise the violence of the mob. These unscrupulous, hateful actions and statements against the Rroma give food for thought. Italy, as other European countries, has been repeatedly criticized for its repressive policy against the minority.

  • Roberts, Hannah (2014) Dozens of Romas flee their camp after 50-strong mob attack their site following claims two of the gypsies had raped a local girl in Italy. In: Daily Mail online vom 12.3.2014.

14.03.2014 Dubious statistics confirm prejudices against Rroma

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The HM Inspectorate of Prisons (2014) published a study that nourishes false prejudices about an increased crime rate among Rroma. Although the study points out that the alleged affiliation rate of 5% of the detainees could be the result of social exclusion, they confirm at the same time one-sided conceptions of illiteracy and lack of education among Rroma. Rroma children are said to be particularly over-represented in prisons. The lack of education is cited as the main cause for the claimed increased crime rates among Rroma: “It has been suggested that Gypsy, Romany and Traveller groups are among the most excluded minority groups in the UK, and available research and data points to poorer health, educational and social outcomes. Of particular relevance to this paper are: difficulties with literacy, which have an impact on accessing services and jobs.” The authors of the study are not or not sufficiently aware that they hinder a successful integration of Rroma with the publication of these results, because these confirm prejudices. At the end, the study indicates that the department of justice has to apply efforts to better integrate the Rroma and Travellers, but the announcement of this intention doesn’t at all compensate the prejudices that are fuelled by the study (compare Barrett 2014, BBC 2014, Cottrell-Boyce 2014, Doyle 2014, The Guardian 2014).

07.03.2014 “The Rroma: The scapegoats of politics”

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Mouillard (2014) reports on the publication of the latest paper by Romeurope. In the policy report 2012-2013, the organization criticises the unaltered stigmatization of Rroma by French politics, the authorities and the deterioration of conditions in the slums: “Regardless of the change of government, one is forced to state with consternation that the situation of persons who live in occupied houses and slums has deteriorated. […] The Rroma are assigned this [negative] identity, they are seen as uncontrollable as well as being responsible for the filthy housing conditions.” Mouillard shows with numerous quotes from a wide variety of politicians, that the Rroma still serve as scapegoats for local politics, which portrays the Rroma as a counter-concept to bourgeois values (compare Romeurope 2014).

07.03.2014 The mayoral elections and the French Rroma-policy

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On the occasion of the upcoming mayoral elections, Perrier (2014) tours through the different regions of France. As a positive, albeit largely singular project, he describes the efforts of the mayor of Hellemmes. The local politician decided against the expulsion of resident Rroma and instead built them a small integration village consisting of five fixed caravans. How these integration efforts affect his chances for re-election, is not discussed any further. However, it is clear that there is no unity among the voters about the handling of Rroma. Still, a rigorous expulsion-policy is present and is supported by many mayors and hinders the successful integration of the Rroma.

07.03.2014 Taking into care of Rroma children: care or structural violence?

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Voigt (2014) from the Frankfurter Rundschau reports on two young Rroma children taken into care by the Frankfurt youth welfare office. The youth welfare office justifies its action with reference to the precarious living situation of the family: the Romanian Rroma family is said to have lived under problematic conditions in an hut without heating and running water. The Förderverein Roma takes a very different viewpoint: “taking the two children into care [is] a clear case of “punishment of poverty”. The family was not illegal, but lived in the hut with the consent of the owner. Just because the parents cannot finance an own apartment because of their poverty, the children are taken away from them.” The association is committed to find a reasonable accommodation for the whole family and for the parents to receive social welfare.

07.03.2014 Segregation of Rroma-children in Hungary and Slovakia

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Thorpe (2014) reports on a court ruling that concerns a segregated school in Nyiregyhaza, in north-eastern Hungary. Human rights activists filed suit against the school run by the Greek-Catholic church, as it taught almost exclusively Rroma children. The school was already closed in 2007, in the course of desegregation plans and then reopened in 2011: “The Chance for Children Foundation, a Hungarian organisation that campaigns for Roma education rights, then sued both the Church and the Hungarian state for introducing segregation. The judge ruled on Friday that the current functioning of the school violates both Hungarian laws on equal opportunity, and Council of Europe recommendations.” The judgment could affect many other schools in Hungary, which also have a high proportion of Rroma children. – Consciously segregated schools have to be firmly opposed, because they promote the exclusion of the Rroma and impede successful integration. However, schools that have a high proportion of Rroma children because of mere geographical reasons, should be assessed carefully when deciding over a closure.

Springer (2014) reports on the segregation of Rroma children in Slovakia. In the northwest of the country, in the village Šarišské Michaľany, a new headmaster Jaroslav Valastiak took office one year ago. Valastiak was hired in response to a court decision that is hopefully a  precedent, which called for the abolition of segregation at the local school. It is astonishing that segregation hasn’t decreased but actually increased significantly since the early 1990s, to today’s estimated 40% of the Rroma-children: “Before Valastiak started, Roma students weren’t allowed in the school’s cafeteria. They received a cold, dry ‘lunch’ of cereal and juice before school each morning, while non-Roma students ate freshly served hot meals in the lunchroom at noon. Before the court ruling Roma and non-Roma students spent recess in segregated yards and were taught in separate classes, on different floors of the school. Valastiak says non-Roma students received more thorough lessons, while Roma classes were rudimentary.” In response to the court ruling, sixteen of the best Rroma students were integrated into the non-Rroma classes. Reasons for the gradual mixing and not the complete abolition of the segregation are the sometimes inadequate Slovakian language skills of Rroma children, the headmaster states. He wants the desegregation to be successful, therefore it has to take place gradually, he states. Another problem for the desegregation lies in the regulation allowing parents to choose the school regardless of where they live. This leads to an additional separation of ethnic Slovaks and Rroma.

07.03.2014 Renewed deportation of school-enrolled Rroma children

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Alain (2014) reports on a new, uncompromising deportation of Rroma children enrolled in French schools. At the end of 2013, the deportation of young Rromni Leonarda and her family caused such large media coverage that president Françoise Hollande himself offered Leonarda a return to France. She rejected the offer, because she said she would only return with her entire family. The responsible court rejected this request. An almost identical case has now taken place in Saint-Fons. The eight-year-old Rroma girl Patricia and her five siblings, who went to school in the city were picked up by the police and deported along with their parents on the very same day. Earlier, the police had confiscated their identity papers and instead illegally handed them receipts and forbidden them to leave the district. It is particularly alarming that the Rroma were previously taught in a specially created minority-class, in Saint- Fons, which was located in the same building as the police. Only because of demonstrations and legal interventions this segregation was then cancelled.

07.03.2014 Paul-Marie Coûteaux relaunches the Rroma debate anew

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Le Monde (2014) reports on the opinions of Paul-Marie Coûteau. Coûteau belongs to the national-conservative and Eurosceptic party Souveraineté, indépendance et libertés (SIEL), which he founded himself. On his blog, he expresses the idea that Rroma should be put in specialy established camps. The article has the telling title “On the establishment of Rroma in Paris and the slow extinction of the national sense of honour”. Coûteau perceives the sight of impoverished Rroma in the streets of Paris as aesthetically disturbing: “Their presence is an unworthy sight for Paris and unworthy of France, unworthy of a great country, and a problem for the aesthetic order.” He stands for election for the electoral coalition Rassemblement Bleu Marine as mayor for the sixth district of Paris. Coûteau expresses himself negatively towards the free movement of persons with Romania and Bulgaria, against which he voted.

Coûteau’s perspective on the Rroma is as one-sided as the majority of the public debate, which focuses only on visible Rroma. It is also telling, that he states to be hurt in his national honour by the sight of Rroma. He therefore reveals himself as a proponent of a radical order-policy that puts aesthetic feelings before human dignity, which is totally absurd. SOS Racisme has announced that it will file a complaint against Coûteau because of his racist remarks (compare 20 minutes 2014, Libération 2014, Théveniaud 2014).

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Matharu (2014) shows in his article the historical roots of Rroma in the UK, dating back five hundred years. With his chronology Matharu creates a counter-image to wide spread misconceptions that Rroma are not real Europeans: “1. Romany gypsies have been stopping in Ewell since 1677. They were [often] called Babylonians because nobody could imagine where they came from. […] 6. Gypsies were valued as farm workers because they could quickly bring in crops. They harvested potatoes at Wallace Fields and turnips at Ewell Court. […] 8. After schools were opened up to Gypsies in 1906, many families made efforts to get their children educated. They were enrolled at West Street School and Ewell Grove. 9. Many Gypsies fought in both World Wars.”

In the UK, the equation of Rroma and Irish Travellers often causes confusion. The latter have emerged from the formerly sedentary European population, who started travelling due to political upheavals in the early 15th century. The Rroma have originated in India and have their own language, Rromanes. Most Rroma are not travellers.

07.03.2014 French “Rroma doctor” suspended

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Christophe Lamarre, who amongst others, treats a large community of Rroma in Roubaix, was suspended from his work by the tribunal of social security for a period of four months. In its explanations for the suspension, the tribunal refers to the unlawful prescription of drugs, both in terms of quantity as well as duration: “He prescribed Subutex and other substances derived from morphine in too big quantities and for too long periods [ … ] The rules concerning prescribed Toxika are very strict: not more than 28 days without interruption. These errors in the prescription can be very dangerous for patients.” Lamarre was not suspended, as some media announced incorrectly, due to exceeded working hours. In 2009, following an investigation due to anomalies in his prescriptions, a health insurance of Roubaix filed a suit against Lamarre. Lamarre was trying to show that he had already reduced the prescriptions of morphine when receiving the complaint from the insurance by 40%. Nevertheless, in November 2013 he was sentenced to a four-month suspension of his profession, two of them on probation. In the district of Roubaix, where Lamarre practices, one doctor is responsible for 10’000 inhabitants. Lamarre accommodated several Rroma families in his former practice after a local camp had been evicted (compare Bordenet 2014, Mascoli 2014, Metronews 2014, Le Nouvel Observateur 2014).

07.03.2014 Francetv info: “Who are the Rroma?”

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In a series of five articles, Francetv Info presents the lives of immigrant Rroma in France. Unfortunately, the only Rroma getting a voice already stood in the focus of media attention through the focus on differences to the general population. Baïetto’s (2014) text focuses on the fate of a Rroma family in Champs-sur-Marne. The article accuses the eviction-policy of the French authorities, but at same time confirms stereotypical notions of neglected Rroma that beg and sell scrap metal. In addition, once again only visible Rroma get a chance to speak: “For many families in their situation, scrap iron and begging are the two basic sources of income. The men get up very early in the morning, looking for pieces of metal they can sell. The women beg in the streets of the city and make five or six Euros a day.” The Rroma interviewed emphasize that life in France, in spite of their apparently miserable conditions, is still much better than in Romania. Here they don’t go hungry and the children can attend the school. Since she is living in France, says one Rromni, she had to change her accommodation a dozen times due to forced evictions. This happened in a time period of four years.

Legrand (2014) portrays a young Rrom who left Romania at the age of thirteen. Elvetian works as a middleman. He provides his acquaintances with outlets for objects such as mobile phones or jewellery whose origin are doubtful. In the following section Elvetian tells about his childhood, in which he committed shoplifting and illegal copper collection. He was deported several times, but always travelled back to France, because his entire family lives here. Legrand’s article gives an overview of the difficulties immigrant Rroma face in their attempt to integrate into the labour market and French society. However, her article confirms stereotypes about stealing Rroma, as the have been widely disseminated by the media. Therefore, one cannot describe the selection of the portrayed Rroma as fortunate nor as representative.  

The third article deals with a fifteen-year old Rrom who prostitutes himself in front of the Gare du Nord in Paris. He earns twenty to thirty Euros per client, who he usually serves on the toilets of the train station and the surrounding fast food restaurants. He has no pimp, but regular customers. Between thirty and fifty young Rrom prostitute themselves in front of the Gare du Nord, according to the sociologists Olivier Peyroux. One of the reasons for this are the difficulties minors face in finding a regular job. The article paints a picture of prostitution that is practiced out of poverty and lack of alternatives and not equated with human trafficking. Nevertheless, also this article has to be described as one-sided, as it confirms stereotypes of prostituting Rroma (Legrand 2014/II).

The fourth article focuses on the fate of a Rroma family from Timisoara, in north-western Romania. The family of 32-year-old Viktor benefited from an active integration policy, which was conducted between 2000 and 2007 by the agglomeration syndicate Sénart. As a result of the active integration policy, the portrayed family received a council house on the condition that the children regularly attend school, that the parents actively seek work and they would not beg: “At the end of the 1990s, Rroma families settled down in the heart of the new town. Some voters complained and the prefecture decided to try something out.  […] Based on their behaviour and their history, the prefecture chose 23 Rroma families and settled them on a site with sanitary facilities.” In return for their active integration efforts, the families received first job offers and residence permits, so that they would be able to raise the necessary funds to purchase regular social housing. In 2007, Sénart stopped its support payments to the families due to lacking funds. Viktor and his family could remain in the social housing thanks to his job in a supermarket. They do not approve the one-sided portrayal of the Rroma in the French media: “I hear pranksters about Romanians in television, rants Viktor. […] If a Romanian causes problems, they equate all Romanians, he complaints. Look at me, I’m working, I have a house and my children go to school, he tells.” The fourth article, concerning the stereotypical representations of Rroma, clearly can be better rated than the other ones. It shows the positive example of a successful integration. However, that there are other integrated Rroma in France, who are living the country since generations or decades, a fact that is not mentioned here either (Baïetto 2014/II).

The fifth article in the series also tries to create a counter-image against stereotypical notions of Rroma. Florin, a Rrom of 25 years, works as a storeman and speaks perfect French. Only as a teenager, when he newly arrived from Romania in France, he was begging. Then he made the acquaintance of a mart trader, for whom he worked illegally for seven years. His girlfriend helped him to learn French. After problems with the residence permit, Florin’s family was one of the few beneficiaries of the infamous, inter-ministerial circular of the 26th August 2012. His parents got a council house and he and his wife a room in a hotel. In September 2013, he finally finds a legal job as a storeman in Rungis. However, he still has no definite residence permit, even though he would like to integrate and live his life in France (Baïetto 2014/III).

07.03.2014 Desecration of Rroma Holocaust memorial in Merseburg

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Two unknown persons, who most likely belong to an extreme right-wing group, desecrated a memorial in Merseburg, which commemorates the Holocaust of the Rroma during the Second World War. The offense has been recorded by a video camera that was installed because of an earlier desecration: “In recent weeks, four foreigners were attacked in Merseburg. A suspect was taken into custody, several well-known right-wing extremists were investigated. On Saturday, about 600 people rallied on the streets against racism in Merseburg.” The Holocaust against the Rroma is insufficiently reappraised until now. Only in October 2012, a memorial remembering the murder of the Rroma by the Nazis was inaugurated in Berlin (Berliner Zeitung 2014, Focus online 2014).

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