Category Archives: Region

Antiziganistische Übergriffe, Antiziganistische Klischees, Fundstücke, Polen, Posts in English

Roma minority attacked with Molotov cocktails

Roma inhabitants of the village of Krosnica, southern Poland, near the Slovak border, have called for monitoring on their estate, after an assault involving Molotov cocktails last Friday.

The incident occurred at about 10 pm on Friday night, when two flaming bottles of petrol landed on property belonging to members of the Roma community.
One bottle fell onto grass and the flames quickly petered out. The second landed on the roof of a house, and the inhabitants swiftly extinguished the flames.
No one was injured in the assault.
Police believe that the crime was carried out by someone driving through the village.
Roma inhabitants of Krosnica told the Gazeta Krakowska daily that they are regularly intimidated by drivers, whether it be with empty cans or stones.
However, this is the first time that a home-made bomb has been used.
“Up until now its just been stones and insults that have been thrown at us,” said one resident.
“But now, if someone wants to go as far as to set us alight, we’ve reason to fear for our lives.”
The resident underlined that the Roma community did not suspect other inhabitants of the village.
“They’re good people, we manage to get along with them,” they said.

In January this year Roma from the western city of Poznan complained that they were being banned from bars and clubs simply because they were members of the Roma community. Prosecutors opened an investigation after local authorities and the Interior Ministry became involved to solve what Roma said was a case of “blatant racism”

Quelle: Polskie Radio
Stand: 26.10.2011

Abschiebung und Asyl, Analyse und Kritik des Antiziganismus, Fundstücke, Posts in English, Serbien, Staatlicher Antiziganismus

Serbian activists arrested for protecting evicted Roma family

Two human rights defenders were today arrested for trying to stop the forced eviction of a Roma family in Belgrade.
The activists from the Regional Centre for Minorities were arrested for obstruction of justice after they peacefully attempted to prevent police evicting Mevljude Kurteshi and her six children from their apartment.
„These activists were merely trying to defend the human rights of the family being forcibly evicted – an unlawful and inhumane act by the Serbian authorities,“ said Nicola Duckworth, Amnesty International’s Director for Europe and Central Asia.
„Mevljude Kurteshi and her children must be given adequate alternative housing immediately.“
Witnesses say the two activists were arrested after politely refusing to move from the door of Mevljude Kurteshi’s basement apartment. They were released and may face charges of obstruction of justice, which could lead to a custodial sentence.
Mevljude Kurteshi was given no reason for the eviction and the authorities have not provided her with anywhere else to live.
After the eviction, her possessions were loaded onto a truck and taken to the informal Roma settlement at Belvil, where the family have no option but to move in with relatives. Evictions are also scheduled at Belvil.
Neighbours reportedly stood around jeering and applauding as she waited for a bus to take her and her children, some of them barefoot, to her new “home” at Belvil.
“Over the last month we have seen several forced evictions carried out with complete disregard for the rights of vulnerable people,” said Nicola Duckworth.
“To forcibly evict a single mother and her children without any adequate alternative housing is a complete violation of Serbia’s international obligations.”
Mevljude Kurteshi and her family were forcibly displaced from Kosovo after the 1999 war. Like other internally displaced Roma, she is unable to return home.
She was provided with the apartment in 2006 after she had been relocated from a housing estate, known as the “asbestos settlement”, which was demolished for health and safety reasons.
The eviction, which was carried out by police and the Čukarica authorities had previously been postponed on 11 October after human rights activists and local NGOs protested at the site.
Serbian authorities have failed to adopt a law prohibiting forced evictions, which would ensure that the processes and safeguards set out in relevant UN Guidelines and Principles are in place before any evictions are carried out.
According to the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to participate in peaceful activities against violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms”.

Quelle: Amnesty International
Stand: 25.10.2011

Fundstücke, Geschichte des Antiziganismus, Posts in English, Rumänien

The Holocaust of Roma in Moldova continue to remain unaddressed issue

On 20-21 October 2011 in Chisinau, at the Free University (ULIM) was held a two-day conference “Unknown Holocaust of Roma” – as a challenge of nowadays situation of Roma people. The conference have been followed with an exhibition of photos with Roma survivors made by Luminita Cioaba (from Romania).
The Conference have been attend by Swedish EU Affairs Minister, Birgitta Ohlsson, the Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg, academics from various parts of Europe, representatives from different embassies and international organizations present in Moldova, Minister of Justice, vice-Ministers of Education and of Labour, Social Protection and Family, representatives of the Romani NGOs from Sweden and Moldova, etc.
On the first day the Roma National Center has presented a film named“Persecution” produced in collaboration with the E Romani Glinda (Sweden) as a documentary film on Roma survivors from Republic of Moldova and facts of roma deportation by Nazis to Transdnestrian region. The second day have been dedicated to contemporary forms of discrimination as well as their poverty, illiteracy, jobless, their migration to European states and portrayal of the negative prejudices by media in enforcing the anti-Roma sentiment in the whole society.
“The improvement of Roma cannot be done without considering ways to tackle their inclusion and combating discrimination” – said Mr. Nicolae RADITA, chair of Roma National Center at the conference.
“Roma are excluded at all levels of decision making process, there is a widespread violence against them and treated in mockery way when it comes to address their issues”.
As a conclusion participants have stressed that there is a need of public policies developed by the Moldovan Government where Roma should be considered equal partner in implementing it, education made available at all levels and to adopt antidiscrimination legal framework in order to secure rights for everyone.
The events were organized by Roma National Center in cooperation with Porojan Association and E Romani Glinda from Sweden supported financially by Swedish Institute, Sweden Embassy in Chisinau, UNDP, UN Women Moldova.
For more information, please contact Natalia Duminica, project assistant, Roma National Center, tel. +373 22 227099, email: [email protected]

Quelle: Roma Buzz Monitor
Stand: 27.11.2011

Antiziganistische Übergriffe, Fundstücke, Posts in English, Tschechien

Czech Republic: Vice-mayor confirms charges filed against ethnic Czechs

The Vice-Mayor of the Neštěmice quarter of Ústí nad Labem, Lenka Jaremová, has confirmed previous reporting by news server Romea.cz that a nighttime attack committed by Romani people against two ethnic Czechs was preceded by those same ethnic Czechs attacking other Romani people earlier in the afternoon. A Romani grandfather and his grandson filed criminal charges over the incident.

Regional daily Ústecký deník reports that Vice-Mayor Jaremová has posted the following information to Facebook: „I cannot comment on this matter, which is one of contrasting allegations. However, today I did personally see an official report filed by a grandfather and his grandson alleging they were attacked at 17:00 in the Mojžíř quarter by two men armed with knives and machetes… The fact that the men returned to the quarter that same night and what happened to them after they returned is the subject of an ongoing investigation.“

According to news server Deník.cz, one of the ethnic Czechs, who was armed with a knife and a machete, is a well-known bouncer at a discotheque. Police spokesperson Veronika Hyšplerová has also confirmed to news server Romea.cz that the grandfather and grandson were attacked in the afternoon and that the same grandfather then filed criminal charges.

Later on Friday evening, a clash occurred between the two ethnic Czechs and a group of Romani people that resulted in the ethnic Czechs being hospitalized. TV Nova reported on the evening incident in a one-sided manner, without informing viewers about the afternoon incident at all. According to news server Romea.cz, the entire event played out differently than TV Nova reported. The two ethnic Czechs attacked a Romani grandfather and grandson in the afternoon before coming under attack themselves that evening. Continue reading Czech Republic: Vice-mayor confirms charges filed against ethnic Czechs →

Antiziganistische Klischees, Fundstücke, Posts in English, Tschechien

Anti-Romani lies spread online, Czech Labor Ministry refutes them

More false claims targeting Romani people are circulating through the internet. The authors of the e-mails claim Romani people will not have to perform community service work like everyone else in order to access welfare in future. The reality is the opposite: Romani people are likely to be primarily impacted by the policy requiring the performance of such work. The Czech Labor and Social Affairs Ministry has responded to the rumors on its website.

The ministry points out that chain e-mails have recently been spreading absurd, alarming, dangerous information in the style of a classic hoax. One such e-mail reads as follows:

„Unemployed people who have been collecting unemployment benefit for more than two months will have to perform community service. However, Gypsies don’t draw that benefit, because they were never employed to start with. They receive welfare benefits which are not linked to the performance of community service. The solution invented by our governing elite is not targeted on getting Gypsies to start working, but against the rest of us who were employed for years and responsibly made our social security payments into the state coffers.“

„This is of course pure nonsense,“ the Labor Ministry has responded. The ministry will be requiring community service as of 1 January 2012 of all persons who have been „long-term unemployed, i.e., primarily of those unemployed persons who, on the contrary, are no longer entitled to unemployment benefit and are therefore very often the recipients of welfare for the socially deprived. Should they refuse to perform community service, their right to those benefits will expire.“

The ministry is currently designing a methodological instruction manual on how to select the persons to whom this work will be offered. The selection process will particularly emphasize „including persons who are presumed to be abusing the system either through their passive approach to seeking jobs or because they work under the table.“

Quelle: Romea.cz
Stand: 19.10.2011

Fundstücke, Posts in English, Tschechien

Šluknov demonstration a fiasco – Romani residents boo the organizer

Convicted con artist Lukáš Kohout did his best to spark anti-Romani sentiment in Šluknov today after similar efforts in the towns of Rumburk and Varnsdorf. He did not succeed. Approximately 100 people turned out on the town square this afternoon, 60 of them Romani residents.

„This is a complete debacle for Kohout. People whistled him down here,“ a correspondent for news server Romea.cz reported directly from the scene. When Kohout tried to make a speech, Romani bystanders began loudly whistling, drowning out his usual rhetoric. „Get out of here, you´re a criminal yourself! How can you demonstrate against crime?“ one Romani man called out to him.

The march that was originally planned did not take place due to pure lack of interest and the entire event was over almost as soon as it began. Police were on hand for security reasons during Kohout´s provocation, but there were no brawls or riots.

There was no anti-Roma demonstration in Varnsdorf this weekend. The streets of the town, including Edvard Beneš Square, were reserved by the organizers of a musical and theatrical Festival for Joy (Festival pro radost). Our correspondent says both ethnic Czechs and Romani people mingled on the square there.

Quelle: Romea.cz
Stand: 16.10.2011

Analyse und Kritik des Antiziganismus, Antiziganismus von Rechts, Antiziganistische Übergriffe, Antiziganistische Klischees, Beiträge auf Deutsch, Bulgarien, Ungarn

Mit Feuer und Facebook gegen Roma

In Bulgarien kam es Ende September zu Massenaufmärschen und Gewalt gegen Roma. Auch in anderen europäischen Staaten werden die Wohnviertel der Roma zur Zielscheibe des Hasses. NGO sprechen von einer neuen Welle der Gewalt.

Vor allem Jugendliche seien auf den Straßen von Katunitsa gewesen und hätten Roma beschimpft und später Gebäude in Brand gesetzt, berichtet Teodora Krumowa von der bulgarischen NGO Amalipe. Zu dieser Gewalt kam es nach einem Autounfall am 23. September, bei dem ein 19jähriger Fußgänger gestorben war. Der Autofahrer gehöre zum Umfeld der organisierten Kriminalität, sagt Krumowa. Mit dem Opfer habe es zuvor eine Reihe von Konflikten gegeben.

Für die aufgebrachte Menge war völlig klar, dass der 19jährige vorsätzlich überfahren worden war. Der Beschuldigte ist für sie auch nicht Mitglied der Mafia, sondern Angehöriger eines mächtigen »Roma-Clans«. Dem Vorfall diese ethnische Dimension zu verleihen, sei äußerst gefährlich, sagt Krumowa. Drei Häuser brannten nieder, die dem Besitz der Organisation von Kiril Rashkov zugeordnet wurden, der lokalen Mafiagruppen vorsteht und für den der Verursacher des Unfalls arbeitete. »Die Polizei war vor Ort, sogar mit einem großen Aufgebot, ist aber trotz der eskalierenden Gewalt nicht eingeschritten«, kritisiert Krumowa. Die Menschen hätten gerufen, dass sie alle »Zigeuner« und Türken umbringen wollten. Dass diese beiden Gruppen in ­einem Atemzug genannt werden, sei für den Jargon der bulgarischen Rechtsextremen typisch. Continue reading Mit Feuer und Facebook gegen Roma →

Analyse und Kritik des Antiziganismus, Beiträge auf Deutsch, Fundstücke, Tschechien

Kinderfest gegen Antiziganismus

Seit mehreren Wochen organisiert Lukáš Kohout antiziganistische Demonstrationen im Norden der tschechischen Republik. Menschen, die sich mit den Roma solidarisch zeigen, organisieren seit geraumer Zeit aktive Unterstützung der Angegriffenen. Als vor einiger Zeit die Demonstration von Kohout angeführt direkt am Haus der Romas vorbeiging, konnte den Kindern im Garten mit Jonglage und anderen Kinderspielen etwas Abwechslung gegeben werden. So auch am 02.Oktober. Kinder malten, wurden als Indianer geschminkt, was Ihnen sichtbar Freude bereitete. Dank solidarischer Menschen aus Sachsen konnten sie sich auch als Jongleure probieren. Zudem waren menschen mit Instrumenten da, die die Stimmung durch nette Musik aufbesserten.
Für den 15.Oktober 2011 wurde ein Kinderfest mit den betroffenen Romas in Varnsdorf organisiert.
An diesem sonnigen Herbsttag gehörte der Platz, auf dem die romafeindlichen Kundgebungen stattfanden, den Roma und allen, die ein deutliches Zeichen gegen Antiziganismus setzen wollten.
Solidarische Menschen aus Deutschland, darunter aus Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden, Chemnitz, Bautzen, Zittau, Liberec, Novy Bor, Görlitz und selbst aus Rostock unterstützten diese Aktion. So wurde dringend benötigte Kleidung und Spielzeug gesammelt und den Anwesenden übergeben.
Eine Vokü sorgte mit veganen Essen für das leibliche Wohl. Für Diskussion sorgte, dass diese das Essen kostenlos abgeben wollte. Dies sollte untersagt werden, da noch andere Händler vor Ort waren, die jedoch ihr Essen verkaufen wollten und somit besorgt waren, keinen Gewinn zu machen. Die Optionen waren, uns einen anderen Platz zu suchen, oder ebenfalls Geld zu verlangen. So einigten wir uns, dass wir 20 KSC verlangten, statt 40 KSC, wie die professionellen Händler. Viele Kinder trauten sich nicht, das Essen anzunehmen was wir ihnen anboten, da wir ihnen nicht erklären konnten, dass sie nichts zu bezahlen brauchen. Ein Freund aus Liberec legte einen Flyer aus, auf dem erklärt wurde, dass es eine Spende ist und wer kein Geld hat nichts zu bezahlen braucht. Wer es sich leisten konnte, lies eine Spende da. Danach trauten sich die Kinder doch das Essen anzunehmen. Dieses fand auch bei den erwachsenen Besuchern reißenden Absatz, so dass noch nachgekocht werden musste. Die lokalen Romas haben die Idee, eine nicht mehr genutzte Kirche als sozialen Treffpunkt zu nutzen. In diesem wollen sie Angebote für Menschen, die wie sie selbst sozial benachteiligt werden, schaffen. Diesem Vorhaben wird das bei der Vokü eingenommene Geld gespendet und kommt somit den Menschen vor Ort zugute. Continue reading Kinderfest gegen Antiziganismus →

Antiziganismus auf politischer Ebene, Antiziganismus von Rechts, Beiträge auf Deutsch, Bulgarien, Fundstücke

Rechtsextreme hetzen gegen Roma

Rede über „Zigeunerisierung“ des Landes – weiter gespannte Lage in den Städten nach Ausschreitungen

Der Staatschef und der Premierminister haben ihre gegenseitige Antipathie für einen Augenblick vergessen und gemeinsam zu Toleranz und Ruhe aufgerufen. Die aussichtsreichsten Präsidentschaftskandidaten, die später in diesem Monat Georgi Parwanow im Amt nachfolgen wollen, taten dasselbe. Sogar die orthodoxe Kirche hat ihr traditionelles Schweigen gebrochen. Doch eine Woche nach den pogromartigen Ausschreitungen gegen Roma in mehreren Städten Bulgariens kommt das Balkanland nicht zur Ruhe.

An die hundert Sympathisanten rechtsgerichteter Parteien verlangten am Sonntag den Rücktritt von Innenminister Zwetan Zwetanow und prügelten sich vor dem Ministerium in Sofia mit den rasch herbeigeeilten Polizisten. Am Samstag wechselten sich in der bulgarischen Hauptstadt Protestmärsche und Solidaritätsbekundungen mit der Roma-Minderheit ab. Continue reading Rechtsextreme hetzen gegen Roma →

Antiziganismus von Rechts, Bulgarien, Fundstücke, Posts in English

Bulgarian in court on charges of inciting racial hatred on Facebook

A 23-year-old Bulgarian alleged to have set up a Facebook page called „Slaughter of the Gypsies“ after the Katounitsa incident was due in court in the Black Sea city of Varna on October 13 2011 on charges of inciting racial hatred.

The Katounitsa incident in September happened after a 20-year-old was run over and killed by a motorist reportedly linked to controversial Roma businessman Kiril „Tsar Kiro“ Rashkov. The incident was followed by an arson attack on Rashkov’s property and a series of anti-Roma marches in several Bulgarian cities.

Prosecutors allege that Slav Zhechev set up a Facebook page, illustrated with photographs of knives and mistreatment of Roma people, which within a few hours gathered 76 people for a planned September 28 involving the gathering of weapons.

Zhechev was due to appear in Varna District Court to answer the charges.

A criminal trial involving the alleged use of social networks to incite racial and ethnic hatred is a first for Bulgaria.

The aftermath of the Katounitsa incident caused widespread concern among international human rights groups about ethnic tension in Bulgaria. The Government underlined that it saw the initial incident as a criminal case and pledged to come down hard on those who sought to exploit to sow ethnic divisions.

The incident has been taken up as an issue by far-right political forces competing in Bulgaria’s October presidential and municipal elections.

According to Bulgaria’s 2011 census, there are more than 325 000 Roma people in the country, just less than five per cent of the total population of 7.3 million.

Quelle: The Sofia Echo
Stand: 13.10.2011