Tag Archives: Stereotypes

News Eastern Europe Slovenia

Slovenia and Roma

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Slovenia and Roma

The Šentjernej People’s Initiative claims that police had to intervene multiple times due to violations of public order by local Roma after 10 PM.

They criticized Amnesty International Slovenia for not addressing the concerns of local residents who face harassment and threats from nearby Roma communities.

The initiative, formed by local residents, advocates for equal treatment under the law and zero tolerance for violence, and gained prominence after organizing a protest in 2025 over safety issues.

They actually support rather extreme measures, such as cutting social care if Roma don not “behave” or send their children to school, and want to remove Roma settlemens which they mostly deem illegal.

News Eastern Europe Romania

The Borat Village

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The Borat Village

The village of Glod in Romania, known for its portrayal in Sacha Baron Cohen’s parody documentary about Kazakhstan, still remembers the dubious production methods and betrayals from that time.

The article describes the lives of Andrei and his grandfather Neamu, who live in this Roma community, reflecting on their history.

The village’s name, Glod, translates to ‘mud’, symbolizing its humble beginnings and the contrast with the nearby city.

Greece News Western Europe

This is really bad …

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This is really bad …

A video from a party in Ano Liosia, Greece, shows a chaotic scene where a man is said to threaten police with a knife, raising concerns about law enforcement and public safety in certain areas of Attica.

The video, intended to mock authorities, depicts police retreating to avoid escalating violence, which has led to criticism of their effectiveness and the state’s tolerance of criminal behavior.

The cover picture of the vide says it all. This is bad in every sense of the word. Bad tht it happened, and bad that it is being escalated in the press.

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Really?

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Really?

The Tatranská gallery recently opened a new exhibition. The project entitled The Color of Faith presents the works of Ľubomír Hajdučík and Jozef Sedlák. It is a theological-anthropological visual probe of the experience of faith in selected Roma communities from the settlements of Podhorany and Kolačkov.

So far so good … but then …

According to the gallery: “In the given realities, the project reveals the historically given essential orientation and attachment of the Roma in religious rituals to the magic of colors, the fascination with colorful ornaments and the ostentatiousness of clothing. In a contextual way, it captures the paradigm of the specific relationship of the Roma to the ceremonial service of liturgical ceremonies of baptism, first communion, funerals, weddings or the consecration of specific families, dwellings and entire urban spaces of settlements.”

News Western Europe United Kingdom

Trash – Continued

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Trash – Continued

The reality show “The Secret Lives of Gypsy Wives” has faced backlash from the traveller community, who find it embarrassing and insulting, calling for it to be taken off air.

The show follows Trewley-Precious Wass, a TikTok star navigating her mixed Romani and non-Romani heritage, and her struggles with traditional gypsy rules imposed by her family.

Critics argue that the portrayal of gypsy wives in the show does not accurately represent the community and perpetuates negative stereotypes.

News Western Europe United Kingdom

Trash

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Trash

Trewley-Precious Wass, a 26-year-old TikTok star, is featured in Channel 4’s reality series “The Secret Lives of Gypsy Wives,” showcasing her life as a half Romani gypsy and half Gorger.

The show highlights her struggle with family expectations, particularly regarding her career as an influencer, which contrasts with traditional Traveller customs.

Trewley-Precious has a unique full name and three sisters with equally distinctive names, and she shares a close bond with her brother, Jamie John, who supports her choices.

News Western Europe United Kingdom

Secret Lives …

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Secret Lives …

Do we need this: A series titled “the secret lives of Gypsy wives”. What a shame.

Trewley-Precious Wass, star of Channel 4’s ‘The Secret Lives of Gypsy Wives’, emphasizes that her show is distinct from ‘At Home With The Furys’, focusing on the lives of gypsy women rather than boxing culture.

The show explores Trewley’s experiences growing up with a Romani Gypsy father and a non-gypsy mother, highlighting her struggles with cultural identity and family expectations.

Trewley aims to inspire other women by showcasing that there are more options for gypsy women beyond traditional roles, advocating for personal freedom and self-discovery.

Bad and bad taste …

Greece News Western Europe

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 …

News Western Europe Portugal

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.

Hungary News Eastern Europe

5th International Roma Music Day

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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 …

Greece News Western Europe

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.

Greece News Western Europe

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 …

News Western Europe United Kingdom

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.

Greece News Western Europe

Greece and a Dead Nurse

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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.

Greece News Western Europe

Greece and Roma

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Greece and Roma

One of the typical articles about Roma in Greek press. When they are not stealing, then, underage forced weddings are the norm…

The article says that a 16-year-old girl escaped from her 30-year-old husband in a Roma settlement in Neapolis after being forced into marriage against her will about 40 days prior.

The husband was found guilty of domestic violence and threats but acquitted of physical harm, receiving a 17-month suspended sentence. The girl testified that he physically restrained her and threatened her, while he denied any wrongdoing, claiming he loved her and did not understand her fear.

Greece News Western Europe

Really????

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Really????

An article that claims that Roma are behing 76% of all burglaries in Greece. They throw numbers around without proofs. According to them: “A total of 510 criminal organizations were recorded with 3,469 members. Of these, 51% are domestic, which shows that Greek participation remains dominant in the field of organized crime. Of the foreign organizations, Bulgarians and Albanians have the strongest presence, followed by Georgians and Turks.”

How they arrive at those numbers, and frankly they are certainly not true, remains a mystery.

Austria News Western Europe

Austria and Roma

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Austria and Roma

Following the statement from the police regarding travelling Roma in Austria’s Burgenland, which contained a wealth of sterotypes, there was an outcry in the press and among the Roma from the country.

This article is a reportage within this group of mostly french pentacostal Roma and comments by Roma activists. Worth reading!

Albania News Eastern Europe Slovenia

A Slovenian in Albania

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A Slovenian in Albania

The Slovenian journalist and presenter Rosvita Pesek famous in her country, is currently on vacation in Albania. She describes the latter as a country of differences – on one side, majestic buildings, on the other, unfinished buildings, on one side, greenery, on the other, garbage.

Right from the very beginning, Rosvita Pesek described Albania as “a country of a little less than three million people, of Albanians and Roma”.

No Comments …

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Make Them Work!

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Make Them Work!

The current Slovak Minister of Tourism and Sports, Rudolf Huliak, (Rural Party) presented his proposal regarding the Roma issue on social networks. He claims that the state has been financing dysfunctional programs for a long time and the solution should be greater involvement of Roma in the work process.

However, he has not yet presented several specific parameters of the proposal…

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Nikolas Ferenc

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Nikolas Ferenc

Nikolas Ferenc, an actor and influencer who raises Roma topics on social networks, was the guest of the Klub Rádia Junior. He revealed to the moderator Eva Sinkovičová how he refutes negative prejudices.

As he is of Romani origin, he talks about Roma culture on social media and refutes prejudices. According to Nikolas, people most often think of Roma as thieves and non-workers.

“I try to work with a bit of humor, I try to explain things historically,” he says. He considers the idea that Roma don’t work to be one of the biggest lies. “If Roma didn’t work, we wouldn’t have sewage systems in Prague,” he says, adding that Roma often do jobs that others don’t want to do.

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