Hundreds of Roma have been gathering in a large church in Leskovac (Serbia) to pray in a evangelical church. This is a new phenomenon in Serbia. It used to e housed iin a tent, and now has been replaced by a brand new church.
Around 300 people attended the funerals of Jan Hauer, a prominent Czech Sinto who died last week.
Thirteen years later, Árpád Kiss, who was convicted of leading a neo-Nazi death squad which killed several Roma in Hungary finally admitted his guilt in an exclusive interview from his prison cell with the right-wing Hungarian news portal.
Let’s hope there is a special place in Hell for them.
An 83 years old Rom from the Ukraine, who survived World War Two, has now been forced to flee his country due to the Russian invasion.
Hungary will soon start a new census. Proud Roma has started a campaign aimed at convincing Roma to declare themselves as such in the census. The last census in 2011 put the Roma population at 315,583, comprising 3.18% of the total Hungarian population. However, many unofficial sources estimate that Hungary is home to more than 800,000 Roma.
Lukáš Pulko is a Roma activist and former football player from Ústí nad Labem. He figured out how to get kids off the streets from drugs and hanging out. He brought dozens of children from the excluded locations of Ústí nad Labem to football and regular training.
Evangelical churches are making inroads among Roma in Serbia. Here a reportage on the church in Levkovac. The article is more on the positive side, saying these churches insist on education, on self-reliance etc., but does not dwell on the fact that generally Roma cultures is often lost.
New projects funded by the Council of Europe will be started in 2023 in Romania and Bulgaria.
A court ordered the arrest of János Agócs, the president of the Roma Self Government who is suspected of official bribery. According to the prosecution, he sold his position for HUF 30 million. The Roma leader was caught with a lot of cash, but denies any crime. The decision is not legally binding for the time being, but the coercive measure against János Agócs – for which the prosecutor’s office made a motion – can be implemented immediately, that is, the Roma leader, who has been in custody until now, will be arrested. The reason for the decision was the risk of recidivism and the fact that if the suspect is released, he may attempt to thwart the investigation.
Bad for everyone …
An exhibition of an Italian photographer in Perpignan on a reportage of the Stolipinovo Mahala (Roma quarter) in Plovidiv. One this is sure, there are no Gitans there … The French seem totally impervious in understanding what Roma, Gitans, Manouches, Sinti actually means. By the way also, Stolipinovo is not the largest Roma settlement. That is most probably the Šutka near Skopje.
Other news are the usual ones: A camp closure in Nice; protests against illegal buildings near Montpellier; racism near Bordeaux; and a mess left over after a closure near Paris.
After a one-year pandemic break, the international Roma festival Gypsy Fest is returning to the capital. Its 14th year in a row will continue to September 3rd on the Main Square in Bratislava.
Another article on the third grade reading book with stereotypes on Roma published in Serbia. The Education ministry declines all responsibility although they were involved. The text uses the term “Cigan” and, as an example says: “A gypsy asked her mother: What is the longest day of the year? Those when wait for dinner without lunch”.
No comments.
An information article on Sinti and Roma. Not too bad for a change.
How Sinti and Roma fight racism in Germany.
Serbia will be conducting a census from October 1st to 31st. Many Roma do not choose to declare themselves as such in the census. Some however do. Joca Nikolić is from Sombor, he is a musician and he is 61 years old. As long as he can remember, he declares himself as Rom. His family roots are like that, he says, that’s how he feels. And he does not condemn those Roma who will not declare themselves in the upcoming census: “It is a personal matter, you can freely declare yourself as a Hungarian,” says Nikolić.
There are various reasons why some people do not want to declare themselves as Roma, the president of the Roma National Council, Dalibor Nakić, told DW. “Some of them are afraid that they will be exposed to discrimination, and some of them have reached full social integration over time, so they think that they will be more appreciated, respected and successful in society if they do not declare themselves as Roma. Mimicry reaction is for some people, according to their logic, a way to achieve a better position in society,” says Nakić.
Reading material for third grade children, ” Narodne umotvorine lake za đake trećake”, published by the “Klet” publishing house, which, contains controversial content according to the Roma organisation Opre Roma. It uses the term “Cigan” and, as an example says: “A gypsy asked her mother: What is the longest day of the year? Those when wait for dinner without lunch”.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development announced that it does not encourage racism, nor does it show irresponsibility towards anyone, especially not towards members of the Roma community and added that it does not prescribe nor approve the contents of the reading material.
North Macedonia will become the next chair odd the OSCE, and will present its priorities for its upcoming chairmanship. It will start in January 2023.
Let’s hope they include something constructive for Roma.
Lawyers are launching a high court challenge against the anti-trespass law that gives the police additional power to tackle “unauthorised encampments”.
The law has been criticised by many but was pushed through by the Johnston Conservative government and its controversial interior minister Priti Patel.
As usual, another racist even in Football. This time, AC Roma has been fined €15,000 for offensive chants by tis supporter against Dusan Vlahovic. The Roma fans were chanting: “Vlahovic, you are a gypsy.”
Roma has been fined €15,000 for offensive chants at Dusan Vlahovic in the 54th and 73rd minutes in yesterday’s #JuveRoma match. The Roma fans were chanting: “Vlahovic, you are a gypsy.” Some Roma fans also threw objects at Juventus fans. (@SerieA_EN) pic.twitter.com/6M5u3YQ0cH
— JuveFC (@juvefcdotcom) August 28, 2022
The Foundation Remembrance, Responsibility and Future (EVZ) and the German Institute for Human Rights (DIMR) invite to a film screening and discussion about the fight for civil rights on September 5, 8 p.m., in the German Film Institute & Film Museum in Frankfurt am Main a.
Racist discrimination has always been part of the everyday experience of the Sinti and Roma in Germany. Discrimination manifests itself in different facets: from unlawful special registrations by the police to disadvantages on the housing market to verbal hostility and physical assaults.
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