Tag Archives: Racism

Austria News Western Europe

Austria and Roma

Published by:

Austria and Roma

In May, the police in Neusiedl am See issued a warning about a group of Roma in Parndorf, which sparked public outrage and criticism.

The warning referred to members of the ‘traveling people’ who were in the area, specifically a group of Roma from Alsace, France, and Germany, who frequently stop in Austrian communities during their travels to Evangelical Mission meetings.

It now turns out that the warning was vetted within the police …

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Criminal Complaint

Published by:

Criminal Complaint

A criminal complaint has been filed against retired public prosecutor Jasmina Paunović and YouTube show host Dejan Lučić for racial and other discrimination due to controversial statements made during media appearances.

Lučić’s comments included conspiracy theories about a so-called “population replacement” and derogatory remarks about Roma people, which he referred to as a “fraud.”

The complaint alleges that Paunović and Lučić incited hatred and discrimination against members of the Serbian Progressive Party and other political opponents during their show aired on July 21.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbia and Roma Voters

Published by:

Serbia and Roma Voters

Serbian opposition figure Božo Drašković made derogatory comments about Roma in Serbia, accusing them of being corrupt and selling their dignity for money.

The article criticizes the racist attitudes of the current protesters who claim to uphold European values while showing contempt for minority communities. Here they take a pro-government attitude, and amalgamate the protesters with political opposition figures.

The article highlights the failure of media hosts to condemn Drašković’s remarks, indicating, according to the article,  a broader issue of racism and discrimination against the Roma community. Well, except that even Roma say that their votes have been bought, and this by the government …

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)

Published by:

European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)

A Rom died during a police intervention in June 2021 after exhibiting aggressive behavior while under the influence of methamphetamine.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Czech authorities failed to adequately investigate the incident and recognized the presence of unconscious racism in the police’s actions.

The Czech state is ordered to pay compensation to the man’s sister, highlighting ongoing issues of discrimination against the Romani community in the Czech Republic.

Austria News Eastern Europe News Western Europe Ukraine

Racism in Austria

Published by:

Racism in Austria

32 Ukrainian Roma children were unjustly accused of theft, highlighting issues in the integration of these children in German language classes.

The incident reflects deep-rooted anti-Roma prejudices and the inadequate response of authorities to racism allegations.

Ukrainian Roma families often have many children, and in Wals Siezenheim, all school-age children were placed in a special class, raising concerns about educational equity.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Serbia and Roma

Published by:

Serbia and Roma

The Commissioner for Equality, Milan Antonijević, suspended the procedure against Dragan J. Vučićević for discrimination against the Roma minority, following a complaint from Initiative A11 regarding Vučićević’s statements about Roma stealing copper wires.

Roma leaders express disappointment over the decision, arguing that a mere warning is insufficient and sends a dangerous message that discrimination and hate speech are tolerated.

Critics highlight the need for stronger institutional responses to racism and discrimination, emphasizing the importance of protecting the rights of all citizens, including the Roma community.

Austria News Western Europe

Ukrainian Roma in Austria

Published by:

Ukrainian Roma in Austria

According to the UN Special Rapporteur on Racism, 32 Roma children from Ukraine were held for one and a half hours in their classroom due to suspicions of mobile phone theft.

The incident, which occurred on October 16, 2025, is documented in a UN report, but the Salzburg education authority denies the events as described.

Germany News Western Europe

AfD and Roma

Published by:

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?

News Western Europe Portugal

Portugal and Roma

Published by:

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.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Is it Normal?

Published by:

Is it Normal?

Zoran Stevanović, before becoming the president of the Slovenian parliament, made various controversial statements online as a local politician.

In a specific post, he said: Bratje Romi, ena 5G antena vsebuje 10 kg bakra in celo pol kg platine. Pa ponoči jih noben ne čuva. Samo da veste. Brothers Roma, one 5G antenna contains 10 kg of copper and even half a kg of platinum. And no one guards them at night. Just so you know.

His comments reflect a longstanding attitude rather than a new development after his election to the national assembly.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

5th International Roma Music Day

Published by:

5th International Roma Music Day

The 5th International Day of Gypsy Music will take place on August 8, connecting 11 venues across 7 countries, with Budapest as the main hub.

The festival aims to celebrate the diversity of Roma music, featuring nearly 30 artists and free concerts, despite financial challenges in Hungary’s cultural scene.

The event honors the late Esma Redžepova, a prominent figure in Romani music, and includes a tradition of simultaneous performances of the international Romani anthem, “Gelem, Gelem.”

Would be nice if they did not use the “Gypsy” or even worse, the “Z”-word …

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Racism in Serbia

Published by:

Racism in Serbia

A video from Šabac shows a woman physically assaulting a Roma boy while using racist insults, sparking outrage on social media in Serbia.

The attacker, K. S., admitted to the incident but downplayed it, claiming she only slapped the boy twice after he was allegedly rude.

The victim’s mother reported the incident to authorities, highlighting previous aggression from the same woman, and called for institutional action to prevent such incidents in the future.

Germany News Western Europe

Germany and Post-War Discrimination

Published by:

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.

News Eastern Europe Serbia

Prejudice in Serbia

Published by:

Prejudice in Serbia

Zlata Petrović, a Serbian singer, openly discussed her Romani heritage and how she concealed it from her son until he was eight years old due to societal prejudices.

She emphasized the importance of being honest with friends and taught her son that he should not associate with those who judge him for his background.

Zlata revealed personal details about her family, including her mixed heritage and her late discovery of her father’s identity, while also planning for her family’s future by purchasing a new property.

Austria News Western Europe

Austria and Racism

Published by:

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.

Greece News Western Europe

Roma Gatherings

Published by:

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 …

Greece News Western Europe

A Row

Published by:

A Row

Romani singer Vasilis Paiteris, who has been politically active since 1993, is facing a lawsuit from Aphrodite Latinopoulou, president of the party “Voice of Logic,” for insulting her dignity.

The conflict satarted when Aphrodite Latinopoulou called him “gyftos” (a pejorative term for Roma in Greek). He responded  by making a provocative remark about Latinopoulou’s appearance, which led to her filing the lawsuit.

In a recent TV appearance, Paiteris expressed willingness to apologize and invited Latinopoulou for coffee to discuss reconciliation, suggesting that 700,000 Romani voters could support her if she seeks forgiveness.

Bulgaria News Eastern Europe

Bulgaria: Racism

Published by:

Bulgaria: Racism

A recent incident at Grand Hotel Therme in Bulgaria has been described as a brutal act of racism, where a group of Roma individuals with confirmed reservations were denied entry and humiliated by hotel staff.

Human rights lawyers argue that this case exemplifies a clear violation of Bulgaria’s anti-discrimination laws, highlighting systemic discrimination against ethnic minorities.

The situation has prompted calls for international scrutiny and potential legal action against the hotel, as well as protests from Roma organizations and citizens against discriminatory practices in tourism.

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

No Racial Profiling?

Published by:

No Racial Profiling?

The Slovenian Advocate of the Principle of Equality has halted an investigation into alleged ethnic profiling of Roma during tax enforcement procedures, concluding that no discrimination occurred.

The investigation was initiated due to concerns about vehicle seizures in joint operations by the Financial Administration and police, examining whether Roma were treated unequally based on their ethnicity.

The Advocate found that authorities acted within legal frameworks and based on objective circumstances, with the main reason for enforcement being unpaid debts to the state, not ethnic background.

Greece News Western Europe

Greece and a Dead Nurse

Published by:

Greece and a Dead Nurse

A nurse died in Nafplio. According to several early reports the 55-year-old nurse collapsed while on duty at the General Hospital, reportedly due to a cardiac arrest during a tense situation involving injured Roma. The incident apparently escalated when relatives of the injured Roma reacted aggressively after being informed that no doctor was available, leading to threats against medical staff. The number of articles reporting this and accosing Roma is so long that we cannot publish it here.

Now, the story is somewhat different, highlighting a bias against Roma in the Greek press. Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis clarified that the death of a nurse in Nafplio hospital was not related to violence from a Roma family, who were concerned about their unconscious child. The hospital workers’ union president stated that the nurse should not have been in the emergency department at that time, as she was not on duty.

rroma.org
en_GBEN
de_DEDE fr_FRFR en_GBEN