Czech Republic

Czech Police coloring book shows a Romani man as a dangerous pedophile

Prague, 18.2.2014 22:00, (ROMEA) When trying to prevent crime, it is definitely good to think of all possible variations of dangerous situations, especially where children are concerned. However, when a coloring book intended for children in nursery school and the lower grades of primary school features a figure whose face is prominently reminiscent of a representative of the Romani minority, and when such a figure plays only one role - evidently that of a dangerous pedophile - that really does call for some reflection.  full story

Czech Republic: Trial begins of Roma man's death at the hands of police

Kynšperk nad Ohří / Sokolov, 18.2.2014 20:58, (ROMEA) Unlike other trials attended by this reporter, this time all the journalists stayed in the courtroom until the performance was over. They were enthusiastic about the plot of this new "thriller" and the mysterious grimacing of District Court Milan Tomeš, who was somewhat reminiscent of Robert De Niro in his dark glasses.  full story

New Czech ombud wants expanded powers

Brno, 18.2.2014 17:44, (ROMEA) Anna Šabatová, the newly-appointed ombud in the Czech Republic, wants to achieve greater respect for the Office of the Public Defender of Rights and to improve its cooperation with the authorities. Šabatová gave her remarks to the press during her travel to Brno, where she was scheduled to meet with staff this afternoon.  full story

Czech Republic: Victims' attorney believes attack was racially motivated, opposes collective blame

Ústí nad Labem, 18.2.2014 16:33, (ROMEA) Today the Regional Court in Ústí nad Labem began to hear the case of a brutal assault committed last year against a married couple in the town of Duchcov (Teplice district). The indictment charges five people, including one juvenile, with perpetrating the attack.  full story

Czech Republic: Trial begins of incident that sparked anti-Romani unrest last year

Ústí nad Labem, 17.2.2014 19:56, (ROMEA) The Regional Court in Ústí nad Labem will begin reviewing the case of a brutal assault in the town of Duchcov (Teplice district) tomorrow. The indictment charges five people with attacking a married couple and two of the five with also beating up an elderly man.  full story

Roma in the Czech Republic losing their language, parents not speaking it with children

Prague, 16.2.2014 19:38, (ROMEA) News server iDNES.cz reports that Romani people in the Czech Republic are gradually losing their knowledge of the language of their forebears. Children in particular are not mastering Romanes.  full story

videoCzech town councilor: Yesterday was a disgrace to Karlovy Vary

Karlovy Vary, 16.2.2014 18:27, (ROMEA) Nazis wearing Fascist symbols and carrying torches marched through the Czech town of Karlovy Vary up to the colonnade yesterday. Accompanied by the Hitlerite rhythm of several drums, they closed off the destination for an hour as their speeches, 80 % of which were in German, resounded through the space.  full story

Czech Republic: Victims of assault say "Don't blame all Roma"

Duchcov, 15.2.2014 20:53, (ROMEA) The married couple who became the target of a brutal attack last year in the town of Duchcov have called on the Czech media to take a sensitive approach to their case, which will go to trial at the end of February. In a letter to the media, the couple emphasize that they do not want the attack against them to be interpreted as an attack by "the Roma against whites or to serve as a pretext for hatred and the incitement of racial intolerance".  full story

videoCzech and German neo-Nazis march with flaming torches through Karlovy Vary

Karlovy Vary, 15.2.2014 20:07, (ROMEA) According to information from the Czech Police, about 100 neo-Nazis from the Czech Republic and Germany came to Karlovy Vary on Saturday for an assembly which organizers claimed was intended to honor the victims of bombardment during WWII. About 50 anti-Fascists protested against their march through the town.  full story

Czech Republic: Only 30 neo-Nazis protested ROMEA in Příbram

Příbram, 15.2.2014 19:33, (ROMEA) A mere 30 neo-Nazis ultimately made it to the assembly today in Příbram to protest against the ROMEA organization. Dozens of police officers, an anti-conflict team and a helicopter were deployed for the event.  full story

Czech Republic: Neo-Nazis take to the streets in three towns after winter break

Karlovy Vary/Ostrava/Příbram, 15.2.2014 1:16, (ROMEA) Police in Příbram are preparing for an assembly on Saturday, 15 February by neo-Nazis who say they want to "draw attention to the upholding of rights" and express their disagreement with financing for the ROMEA organization. The event will be monitored by a police anti-conflict team, canine units, and riot control units.  full story

Czech Police charge Romani brothers with racially motivated assault

Jičín district, Czech Republic, 14.2.2014 20:56, (ROMEA) Two brothers from the Czech town of Obora u Chomutic (Jičín district) could face up to 12 years in prison for a brutal attack committed against a witness to a traffic accident last September. The victim, a non-Romani man, was trying to aid a Romani child who had been knocked off his bike.  full story

Czech Republic: Juvenile perpetrator of "machete attack" gets 4.5 years

Liberec, 14.2.2014 19:42, (ROMEA) Today the Regional Court in Liberec increased both the charges and the punishment for a juvenile perpetrator who participated in the so-called "machete attack" in the Czech town of Nový Bor in 2011. Five assailants injured three men in a bar during the incident.  full story

Czech festival against totalitarianism focuses on student protest

Prague, 14.2.2014 18:51, (ROMEA) "Students against totalitarianism" is the theme of this year's annual Mene Tekel festival, which aims to draw attention to the crimes of communism and Nazism. The high point of the festival will be a commemoration on 25 February of the march on Prague Castle in 1948 when students called for democracy and freedom.  full story

New Czech ombud is Anna Šabatová

Prague, 14.2.2014 17:49, (ROMEA) Anna Šabatová, who has just been elected Public Defender of Rights (ombud), will be wanting politicians to increase the ombud's powers. "I would be glad if the ombud would be able to file motions for the abolition of laws with the Constitutional Court. I would also be glad if the ombud could file its own lawsuits in matters of discrimination," Šabatová said.  full story

Czech ombud candidate Křeček: Minority rights are getting too much attention

Prague, 13.2.2014 23:06, (ROMEA) News server Romea.cz presents the translation in full of the speech given by Stanislav Křeček, candidate for the post of the Public Defender of Rights, to the Czech lower house today:  full story

Czech ombud candidate Šabatová: I will improve work with the public administration

Prague, 13.2.2014 22:28, (ROMEA) News server Romea.cz presents the translation in full of the speech given by Anna Šabatová, candidate for the post of the Public Defender of Rights, to the Czech lower house today:  full story

Czech MPs fail to choose new ombud in first round, second vote tomorrow

Prague, 13.2.2014 21:38, (ROMEA) Czech MPs failed to elect a new Public Defender of Rights (ombud) today. Neither the current Deputy Public Defender of Rights, Stanislav Křeček, nor the former Deputy Public Defender of Rights, Anna Šabatová, has received enough votes during today's first round of secret voting.  full story

Czech Deputy Ombud advises new govt of problems

Prague, 13.2.2014 21:14, (ROMEA) The current Czech Deputy Ombud has congratulated the ministers in the new cabinet on their appointments to office and has warned each of them about several problems which he considers in need of urgent resolution. Most of his remarks were addressed to the Labor and Social Affairs Minister, as traditionally most of the people who contact the Ombud do so about labor and social problems and the office has conducted the most investigations in areas under that ministry's purview.  full story

Czech NGO files complaint against paper over racist article

Prague, 13.2.2014 17:51, (ROMEA) The Prostějovský Večerník ("Prostějov Evening News") daily paper has once again had a complaint filed against it over a racist article. As with the previous case, the complaint was filed by the NESEHNUTÍ nongovernmental organization, which believes that an article headlined "GYPSY HYENAS rob woman of crutches!" violates the law.  full story