Roma Solidarity News » violence

Roma in France Face Multiple Evictions – ERRC.org

romasolidaritynews — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 22:32:50 +0000

“Budapest, 8 March 2013: Roma from Aubervilliers have faced multiple evictions, with disproportionate use of police force, after their settlement was burned down last month. The European Roma Rights Centre and Médecins du Monde sent a letter to French authorities asking them to provide assistance for the families.”

via Roma in France Face Multiple Evictions – ERRC.org.

Bulgaria: Security Guards Shoot Dead Roma Scrap Thief in Sofia – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency

romasolidaritynews — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 02:51:08 +0000

“A teenager of Roma origin who was trying to steal scrap metal has een shot dead in the Bulgarian capital Sofia by a security guard.

The 16-year-old Kamen Asenov and a friend of his broke into the Poduyane refrigerator depot on Saturday in order to steal scrap.”

via Bulgaria: Security Guards Shoot Dead Roma Scrap Thief in Sofia – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency.

Italy soccer attack stokes fears of neo-fascist violence | Reuters

romasolidaritynews — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:36:51 +0000

“Italy’s capital has been rattled by increasing militancy by the extreme right since October, with weekly demonstrations by the neo-fascist youth group Blocco Studentesco often ending in clashes with police.

Local media initially blamed Thursday’s attack on hard-core fans or ‘ultras’ supporting Lazio, who Tottenham had travelled to the capital to play in the Europa League”…

via Italy soccer attack stokes fears of neo-fascist violence | Reuters.

Czech tabloid’s skewed reporting almost launches anti-Romani protests – Romea.cz

romasolidaritynews — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:32:40 +0000

“The Prostějovský Večerník, a real local tabloid, has published a news item that manipulates its facts so as to instigate anti-Romani sentiment as much as possible. According to the report, Romani assailants allegedly attacked Robert Jedlička, a hockey player for the Prostějov team (the Jestřáby) near the Varna discotheque in the town of Olomouc. Jedlička ended up with a broken nose and brain concussion. The brawl was allegedly preceded by several Romani people shouting foul insults and making vulgar gestures at Jedlička’s girlfriend and an acquaintance of hers…”

via Czech tabloid’s skewed reporting almost launches anti-Romani protests – Romea.cz.

Russia : Police abuses against Roma, migrants and (…) – FIDH

romasolidaritynews — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 12:17:17 +0000

Excerpt:

“Roma: everyday victims of police violence

The report submitted to the Committee gives extensive evidence of the specific targeting of Roma people by Russian police, as well as daily abuses to which they are subjected. Negative stereotypes linking Roma origin with criminal behavior remain widespread among law enforcement agents, and intolerance and xenophobic attitudes are common among police. Roma are rendered particularly vulnerable to torture and ill-treatment because of widespread police practices subjecting them to repeated and illegal document checks, arbitrary detention and confinement at police stations. ’Special operations’ – effectively raids on Roma camps, intended to uncover crimes perpetrated specifically by Roma – are regularly conducted, and characterized by discriminatory and degrading treatment. Domestic remedies against these abuses prove difficult to trigger and ineffective in practice, therefore creating a climate of impunity for the law enforcement officers. The report documents instances of habitual beating of Roma men and women in some police stations, sometimes leading to death disguised as suicide. It also highlights cases of illegal detention, mistreatment and gender-specific violence against Roma women.”

via Russia : Police abuses against Roma, migrants and (…) – FIDH.

The New Anti-capitalist Party and the expulsion of the Roma from France

romasolidaritynews — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 21:30:37 +0000

“The racist expulsions of Roma carried out by the French Socialist Party (PS), whose election the New Anti-Capitalist Party (NPA) supported, reveal the reactionary character of the NPA’s support for the PS. The NPA attempts to hide its political culpability in the persecution of the Roma by maintaining a virtual silence on the subject.

The sole comment published by the NPA on the persecution of the Roma, dated October 5, addresses cynical and impotent criticisms of the expulsion of Roma from Marseille.

On September 30, the city of Marseille had lodged a complaint in order to obtain the expulsion of Roma living in a deserted warehouse in the city’s 15th district. On September 27, they had fled from their encampment, under pressure from hostile local residents. The magazine Médiapart of October 20 quotes a Roma person on the expulsion: “Some Arab and Moroccan people came with weapons and petrol-filled bottles to tell us to leave, otherwise they would set the place alight. We called the police but they also told us to leave.””

via The New Anti-capitalist Party and the expulsion of the Roma from France.

Roma activists call for government to move against Jobbik-allied groups | Politics.hu

romasolidaritynews — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 00:55:22 +0000

“The heads of three Roma rights organisations called on Hungary’s government and the authorities to prevent “extreme right organisations and criminals” from disturbing the residents of Hungarian villages and incite hatred.

Jeno Zsigo of the Roma Parliament, Aladar Horvath of the Civic Rights Movement for the Republic and Jeno Setet of the We Belong Here – Roma Community Network signed a statement in reaction to a demonstration by the radical nationalist Jobbik party held in Kerecsend in northeast Hungary on Sunday.”

via Roma activists call for government to move against Jobbik-allied groups | Politics.hu.

Bulgaria: Roma Woman Wins Case against Bulgaria at Strasbourg – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency

romasolidaritynews — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 00:51:42 +0000

“Bulgaria has been found guilty of failing to protect the right to life and of discrimination against a female Roma citizen, who filed a case at the Strasbourg Court of Human Rights.

The European Court of Human Rights has determined that Bulgarian authorities failed to properly investigate a violent assault against the woman that left her disabled.

Back in 1999, Yolanda Yotova was shot in the chest by attackers who have yet not been identified, much less put to trial.”

via Bulgaria: Roma Woman Wins Case against Bulgaria at Strasbourg – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency.

Far Right Protest of Roma in Hungary Highlights Growing Tensions – SPIEGEL ONLINE

romasolidaritynews — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 00:37:47 +0000

Includes photos from Jobbik’s anti-Roma Oct. 17 march.

Excerpt: “Bearing banners and burning torches, more than 1,000 supporters of the far-right opposition Jobbik party rallied at housing projects in the northeastern city of Miskolc where many Roma live. The radical nationalist party blames the Roma community for a number of Hungary’s social problems, including crime and a lack of public security.”

via Far Right Protest of Roma in Hungary Highlights Growing Tensions – SPIEGEL ONLINE.

Hungary far-right marches to denounce Roma – chicagotribune.com

romasolidaritynews — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 16:13:57 +0000

“MISKOLC, Hungary (Reuters) – Blaming Roma for everything from petty crime to trash on the streets, thousands of supporters of the far-right opposition Jobbik party rallied in Hungary on Wednesday in the eastern city of Miskolc.

Local Roma in Hungary’s second largest city simultaneously held a counter-rally rejecting what they said were typical right-wing slurs while police kept the two sides apart, preventing serious clashes.

Supporters of the Hungarian far-right Jobbik party attend a demonstration in Miskolc

Roma demonstrators take part in a protest denouncing claims by Hungarian far-right party Jobbik that the Roma community was bad for public safety, in Miskolc.

“Jobbik will help those who build Hungary, no matter their color,” party chairman Gabor Vona told about 3,000 supporters. “But we will go after those who destroy and won’t let them be!”

The protests underscored increasing tensions in recession-hit Hungary, which had asked for a financing deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union and whose conservative government has announced unpopular austerity measures to cut the budget deficit.

“I can’t live in this area anymore like this,” said Jobbik protester Tamas Kormendi, 25, who is unemployed.

“Not a day goes by without some incident that turns my stomach. These gypsies live like pigs and I swear they like it. Well, they will not like it for long if it’s up to me.”"

via Hungary far-right marches to denounce Roma – chicagotribune.com.