Czech Republic

Czech Republic: Commemorative ceremony for Romani Holocaust victims at Hodonín

Hodonín u Kunštátu, 26.8.2014 12:52, (ROMEA) Seventy-one years ago, the Nazis transported the largest group of Romani prisoners from the so-called "gypsy camp" at Hodonín u Kunštátu to the extermination concentration camp of Auschwitz II-Birkenau. Few returned from there alive.  full story

Czech chamber of experts on gender equality being created

Prague, 25.8.2014 17:12, (ROMEA) A chamber of experts dedicated to the issue of equality beween men and women is being created in the Czech Republic. The body will bring together qualified people from academia and from various specialized areas of practice to focus on the issue.  full story

Trafficking in poverty costing the Czech state a billion a month, speculators profiting

Prague, 25.8.2014 15:07, (ROMEA) The volume of state benefits paid out to subsidize housing for the impoverished in the Czech Republic grew during the past year by one-fourth, and the owners of residential hotels are profiting in particular. Local governments are reportedly doing their best to restrict this trafficking in poverty by buying out such facilities or by offering the recipients of housing benefits the opportunity to live in "training apartments".  full story

videoCzech Republic: Anti-Romani demonstration a fiasco, ultra-right duped by their opponents

Děčín, 23.8.2014 21:52, (ROMEA) The Czech town of Děčín has experienced yet another anti-Romani demonstration, this time under the baton of the right-wing extremists from the Workers' Social Justice Party (Dělnická strana sociální spravedlnosti - DSSS). The last hateful demonstration prior to this one in Děčín was organized by the notorious con artist Lukáš Kohout on Wednesday, 13 August.  full story

Czech Radio archive has Romani-language recording from the 1968 invasion

Prague, 21.8.2014 21:50, (ROMEA) News server iHNED.cz reports that for years a Romani-language recording from 25 August 1968 has gone unnoticed in the Czech Radio archive. The Czechoslovak Radio broadcasts during and after the 1968 invasion are considered historic.  full story

Commemoration of the 1968 occupation of Czechoslovakia

Prague, 21.8.2014 18:28, (ROMEA) Today's commemoration of the occupation of Czechoslovakia by the armies of the Warsaw Pact, which took place at the instigation of the Soviet Union in August 1968, began at 10 AM in front of the National Museum in Prague. The event was held by the "Without Communists" (Bez komunistů) initiative, and was advertised as "More significant than ever given events in the east."  full story

Czech Interior Ministry plans amendment to law on assembly

Prague, 21.8.2014 15:38, (ROMEA) The Czech Interior Ministry has elaborated an amendment to the law on the right to assemble on the basis of its experiences with demonstrations in recent years. The deadline for the draft amendment to be submitted to the Government is the end of October 2014 with a proposed date of effect of 1 July 2015.  full story

Czech con artist Kohout lies about support from famous figures

Prague, 20.8.2014 22:19, (ROMEA) Lukáš Kohout, who says he is running for mayor of the Czech town of Varnsdorf, has perpetrated yet another trick. His website lists the names of famous figures from cultural and political life along with quotes that supposedly express their appreciation and support of him.  full story

Czech trial of eight charged with promoting neo-Nazism to resume

Prague, 20.8.2014 2:14, (ROMEA) The District Court for Prague 1 will be returning on 6 October to the case of the former members of the now-defunct Workers' Party (Dělnická strana - DS) and other right-wing extremists who have been charged with promoting neo-Nazism. The scheduling was announced by www.justice.cz, which is the official website of the Czech judiciary.  full story

Czech trial of two Romani men charged with throwing paving stones at their neighbors

Plzeň, 20.8.2014 1:45, (ROMEA) Yesterday the Regional Court in Plzeň began reviewing the case of 20-year-old David Matuš and his 34-year-old uncle, Radek Matuš, who have been charged with attacking their neighbors this past March in the town of Strýčkovice (Domažlice district). The two Romani men, who according to the indictment attacked their neighbors with paving stones and rocks and threatened to kill them, face up to five years in prison if convicted.  full story

Czech hospitals refuse medical records to women sterilized against their will

Prague, 19.8.2014 18:35, (ROMEA) Several hospitals in the Czech Republic are reportedly refusing to give women who were sterilized in their facilities without their informed consent the medical records of those procedures. In some cases records are said to no longer exist because they were destroyed during recent floods.  full story

Czech con artist who organized anti-Romani protest to serve 10 months in prison

Česká Lípa, 18.8.2014 18:17, (ROMEA) The notorious con artist Lukáš Kohout must serve the remaining 10 months of the 28-month prison sentence he received after he was convicted of having impersonated an assistant to then-Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kavan, also the chair of the UN General Assembly, and flying to exotic countries during 2002 with state money. The decision of the District Court in Česká Lípa has taken effect.  full story

videoCzech Republic: Prague Pride attended by 17 000, including Roma

Prague, 17.8.2014 2:34, (ROMEA) The LGBT pride parade that marched through Prague from Wenceslas Square to the Letná Park on Saturday, 16 August was attended by anywhere between 15 000 and 17 000 well-wishers of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual community, a slight decline from last year's numbers. Bohdana Rambousková, speaking on behalf of the organizers, told the Czech News Agency that the lower attendance was evidently influenced by the weather.  full story

Czech Republic: Romani film festival Čačikano coming to Prague

Prague, 16.8.2014 0:11, (ROMEA) This fall the Světozor cinema in Prague will be welcoming the first-ever year of the Čačikano film festival (www.cacikano.cz), which focuses on Romani themes. The festival will take place on 26 and 27 September 2014.  full story

videoVIDEO: Assembly against racism in front of the residential hotel in Děčín

Děčín, 15.8.2014 18:50, (ROMEA) In Děčín an anti-Romani demonstration took place on 13 August 2014 that was convened by Lukáš Kohout, who has been convicted of fraud several times. About 200 people turned up on the town square for that event, while in front of a residential hotel in Zelená Street about 50 people gathered for an assembly against racism.  full story

Come help us with Romea.cz! ROMEA seeks journalists

Prague, 15.8.2014 0:04, (ROMEA) We are looking for journalists who would like to help us improve the contant of news server Romea.cz and contribute to the magazine Romano voďi. Applicants should also be able to place pieces with other media outlets as well.  full story

Mário Rusenko: Romale, we've had enough, it's time to unite

Děčín/Prague, 14.8.2014 17:53, (ROMEA) The demonstration held by Lukáš Kohout yesterday in Děčín became a farce. Kohout didn't have sound equipment and not many people turned out, just a couple of his supporters and other people who there just to watch.  full story

Czech organizer of anti-Romani demonstration gets plenty of criticism online

Děčín/Prague, 14.8.2014 16:28, (ROMEA) Yesterday the Czech town of Děčín witnessed yet another anti-Romani demonstration involving a march through the town organized by Lukáš Kohout, who has been convicted of fraud more than once. As of yesterday before noon, almost 500 people had responded to the Facebook event announcing the demonstration to say they would be attending; in the end 200 people made it there.  full story

Czech LGBT festival to feature Romani evening

Prague, 14.8.2014 4:01, (ROMEA) On Friday, 15 August, an evening called "Hot Chocolate" will take place as part of the Prague Pride festival, focusing on the issue of LGBT people in the Romani community. The event will offer an exhibition of photographs, music, a debate, fortune-telling and a counseling center.  full story

Czech Police charge two participants in anti-Romani demonstration in Děčín

Děčín, 14.8.2014 0:02, (ROMEA) Police have charged two participants in today's anti-Romani demonstration in Děčín. One faces charges of making criminal threats, while the other is charged with defamation on the basis of convictions, a nation or a race.  full story