Category Archives: News Eastern Europe

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Sulukule: Gentrification is stopped

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Sulukule: Gentrification is stopped

Years after Rroma were expelled from their oldest settlement in Europe, from the neighbourhood of Sulukule in Istanbul, the plans from the ruling AK party who intended to gentrify that part of town have now been cancelled.

This stop follows a ruling of the court of appeal against the government-based project. The court basically did not accept the government arguments that the development plans were for the good of the public.

Bravo, but pity it took so long, as Rroma are now mostly gone.

Bulgarie Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Documentary on Rroma in Bulgaria

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Documentary on Rroma in Bulgaria

Gregori Stoev filmed for a year in the Mahala – the Rroma quarter – of Kjustendil, a city in Bulgaria. This documentary shatters the usual stereotypes of poverty, hopelessness, and shows that the neighbourhood also has middle class and even rich Rroma who are working, have education, etc.

According to the author, people who have seen the movie have had to re-think their views on Rroma.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovénie

European Roma and Traveller Forum in Slovenia

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A round table with the European Roma and Traveller Forum criticized the lack of access to drinking water in some of the Rroma settlement in Slovenia. It is to be noted that Slovenia has a tiny Rroma minority.

Hongire News Americas Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Canada Mission to Miskolc, Hungary

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Canada Mission to Miskolc, Hungary

An official Cancadian delegation is currently visiting Hungary to understand the reasons and true situation of the 40 to 50 families from the region who fled Miskolc and asked for asylum in Canada. This exodus is due to the expulsion currently under way in a Rroma neighbourhood, to make way for a parking lot for a football stadium. Rroma were pushed outside of the city. This action initiated by the mayor has already generated quite a bit of noise. Let’s see what the Canadian officials come back with, and let’s hope that they will see these were illegal expulsions.

Meanwhile, Canada expulsed a Hungarian criminal kingpin who trafficked people into Canada, coaching them to tell they were persecuted Rroma. Neither he nor most of his victims were Rroma …

Hongire Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Green Party sues Rroma Autonomy in Hungary

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The Green party (LMP) is currently suing the Roma Autonomy, the Rroma self Government on Hungary for lack of transparency. They had requested information as allowed by the law but have not yet received anything.

The Roma Autonomy has been shrouded in controversy. One of his previous heads in under investigation, the current one is close to the Orban government, and anyhow the effectiveness of this organisation is far from proven.

République tchèque Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

England: Rroma accused of Human Trafficking

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England: Rroma accused of Human Trafficking

The Daily mail published a lurid article on a Rroma family who trafficked Czech immigrants and who were subsequently forced into effective slavery and mistreatment.

Human trafficking is a criminal offense and we fully condemn the acts of that family. However, the Daily Mail, by stressing the ethnicity of the offenders further the amalgamation in the public of Rroma to criminal migrants. This is totally racist and should not be tolerated.

Bulgarie République tchèque France Italie Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest North Macedonia

ERRC Criticises several countries on Rroma

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ERRC Criticises several countries on Rroma

The European Roma Right Centre criticised several European countries on their handling of Rroma in general and on very particular cases too, such as in the case of France.

France, Macedonia, Italy, Czech Republic, and Bulgaria were cited.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest Roumanie

Testimony of a Romanian Rromni

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Testimony of a Romanian Rromni

A Romanian Rromni speaks out on past discriminations, current issues, and her views on the situation of Rroma. She says it right: You cannot dump people in camps and then say, it is their way of life. It is not.

République tchèque France Grèce Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Amnesty International in appeal for Rroma in Europe

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Amnesty International launched an appeal on the international Rroma day on April 8th, denouncing prejudices against Rroma that still prevail in Europe and give rise to violence and exclusion. They specifically cite the Czech Republic, France, and Greece in this appeal.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

International Roma Day: Ongoing discrimination and exclusion

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International Roma Day: Ongoing discrimination and exclusion

While many countries mark the international Rroma day on April 8th, discrimination, exclusion, and ongoing issues are still the norm for many Rroma in Europe. Europe should mark the day and remember its largest transnational European minority.

Bulgarie Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Bulgaria issues statement on International Roma Day

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Bulgaria issued a statement on the International Roma Day today. While we greet the fact that the country acknowledges its minority (about 10% of the population for the last thousand years), the situation in Bulgaria has gotten much worse for Rroma in the last few years. Segregation, racism, and discrimination are on the rise. Let’s stop this in a country where Rroma have been integrated for so long!

Bulgarie Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Life behind the wall…

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Life behind the wall…

A propos Bulgaria. In Vidin, in the North Western part of the country, the Rroma settlement, the Mahala, is hidden behind a wall. This is new, for a few years back, the wall and this segregation was not there. Yes, there was a Rroma Mahala – neighbourhood – as in the entire Balkan, exactly like there were Turkish, Armenian, Jewish, Bulgarian neighbourhoods in all Balkan cities. But not a wall. And not segregation. And certainly not for “security” as is being claimed by the municipality.

This has to stop!!!!

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovénie

Slovenia observes International Roma Day

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Slovenia observes the international Roma day with the presence of the Culture minister. This country has a tiny Rroma minority. Unfortunate choice of picture on the article which furthers standard stereotypes… But discussion is always welcomed.

Hongire News Americas Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Canada: Systematic discrimination against Rroma refugees

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Canada: Systematic discrimination against Rroma refugees

CBC News report that Rroma refugees in Canada, mostly from Hungary, have been facing massive bias and discrimination in their cases. The report making this claim, authored by Sean Rehaag, a law professor, is damning for the immigration authorities in Canada. He speaks of “luck”, of little hope at appeals, and at denials at the actual situation of Rroma, especially in Hungary.

Bulgarie France Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

Rroma camps, thieves, and the usual clichés … France

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Rroma camps, thieves, and the usual clichés … France

Rroma camps still make the headlines in France. As if a small minority of 15 thousand Rroma was representative and was news. News is that they are being used, misused, and are becoming victims of French politics.

In Marseilles, a camp was closed; while in Antibes, the expulsion will have to wait a little; and in the North, around Roubaix, volunteers and Rroma are still mobilising to further integration and to prevent further expulsions; and in the South West of France, an expulsion of Bulgarian Rroma is reported while in Antibes, they are getting a short respite. Finally, In Nantes, a judge granted a permanent address to Rroma currently living in a camp, are-requisite to any integration in France.

The real pity is not the fate of these migrants, it is the fact that the French Press can’t seem to get over their short sighted stereotypes…

République tchèque Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Russie

Prague: A Rrom is a member of the Prague Minority Committee

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Prague: A Rrom is a member of the Prague Minority Committee

As more than 5% of the Prague population is officially a member of one of the recognised minorities, the city is mandated by law to establish a minority council. Besides Hungarian, Polish, Slovak, Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Russian, German, Jews and Rroma are also represented.

Hongire Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

Jobbik: Trying to shed a racist image

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Bloomberg News report on Jobbik’s attempts to shed its racist and radical rhetoric in order to become more mainstream and potentially open the way to Vona, its chairman, to becoming Prime Minister in Hungary.

Let’s hope this is far from us, for these attempts are nothing more than window dressing.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est

An Interview with Koudelka

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An Interview with Koudelka

A very nice interview of an iconic photographer, Josef Koudelka. Besides his work on the Prague Spring, which propelled him amongst the best known photographer of his times, he also devoted lots of attention to Rroma. He produced a beautiful album based on his work, dark and sometimes gloomy, but with great sensitivity.

Bulgarie France Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Nouvelles d'Europe de l'ouest

And as usual … France …

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And as usual … France …

France this week was in the midst of its local (departmental) elections which has seen a surge in support for the Front National of Marine Le Pen. The French press, never adverse at racial profiling, did go quite far this week. They spoke of evictions in Grimaud, close to St. Tropez; of a fire in a camp in Montpellier; of evictions in Bayonne;  but even more so on criminality.

A report of organised criminality and begging in the region of Lille in the North of France, whereby a Bulgarian gangster ring would force people to beg in that city. Just across the border, some Rroma were arrested for stealing handbags in a fancy shop in Liège.

In brief, the standard picture of the migrant South Eastern European Rrom, who comes to beg, steal, or simply benefit from the social welfare is reinforced, this ahead of elections where an extreme right party is making huge inroads…

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