News

Commentary: Czech TV talk show contributes to anti-Romani sentiment

Prague, 13.1.2014 5:28, (ROMEA) Last Thursday evening the public channel Czech Television 1 broadcast an episode of Michaela Jílková's "Máte slovo" ("You Have the Floor") program on the topic of "Tightening up Welfare". Romani activist Ivana Mariposa Čonková was in the studio audience and protested against the management of the program, whom she believes have grossly violated the public broadcasting statutes of Czech Television and intensified anti-Romani sentiment in the country.  full story

Der Spiegel: EU incapable of aiding its Romani citizens

Berlin, Germany, 10.1.2014 2:25, (ROMEA) An estimated 12 million Romani people live in Europe. They have been there for a thousand years and have been excluded from society and persecuted as "gypsies" there for centuries.  full story

Germany: Merkel's first government crisis is over CSU's anti-immigrant rhetoric

Prague, 10.1.2014 1:05, (ROMEA) Germany will be reviewing options for tightening its rules governing the provision of unemployment benefits and welfare. German television station ARD reported on Wednesday, 8 January that the government has decided it will create a special commission to review the matter.  full story

Slovakia: Politicians can't avoid Fascist rioter turned provincial governor

Bratislava, Slovakia, 10.1.2014 0:34, (ROMEA) High-level politicians in Slovakia are grappling with the unpleasant problem of how to manage their relationships with Marian Kotleba, who was elected provincial governor of the Banská Bystrica Region last November. While they previously labeled the leader of Slovakia's radical right an extremist and a rioter, they are now trying to figure out how to handle unavoidable future moments of contact with him.  full story

Commentary: Sinti youth saves woman’s life in Italy

Vicenza/Naples, Italy, 9.1.2014 23:21, (ROMEA) When I heard about a Sinti guy saving a lady from certain death, my heart filled with pride. For once, finally, some local and national journalists reported news about a beautiful, spontaneous, heroic act of civil value.  full story

Germany: Bavarian CSU continues crusade against immigrants from Bulgaria and Romania

Germany, 9.1.2014 3:32, (ROMEA) A prickly debate is continuing in Germany about immigrants from Bulgaria and Romania. As of the start of this month, citizens of those countries have unimpeded access to the EU labor market.  full story

Czech Republic: A conversation between educators Vladimír Foist and Martin Kaleja

Prague, 9.1.2014 2:22, (ROMANO VOĎI) The monthly Romano voďi publishes a regular column entitled "Two Points of View". Two public figures, one non-Romani and one Romani, who are members of the same profession or who work in the same field, are invited to ask one another questions.  full story

Czech coalition government proposes Dienstbier for Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Minister

Prague, 8.1.2014 2:54, (ROMEA) Representatives of ANO, the Christian Democrats (KDU-ČSL) and the Czech Social Democrats (ČSSD) signed a coalition agreement on 6 January describing the principles of and program for the incoming coalition government's work. The government should have 17 posts including prime minister and two ministers without portfolio.  full story

Czech Republic: Romani victims of racist violence still waiting for compensation

Klatovy/Nýrsko/Plzeň, 8.1.2014 2:26, (ROMEA) Two Romani people from the Klatovy district continue to wait for the compensation awarded to them last November by the Regional Court in Plzeň. A total of six Romani people filed a civil lawsuit for protection of their personality rights over the trauma they experienced when violent racists Václav Boublík and Jiří Miškovič attacked them in July 2011.  full story

France: Scandal of comedian convicted of anti-Semitism continues

Paris, France, 8.1.2014 1:42, (ROMEA) The ongoing scandal in France around the infamous comedian Dieudonné, who has been banned from performing because of his racism, flared up with a new dose of fuel at the end of 2013 and is still alive and well. BBC News reports that French Interior Minister Manuel Valls has emphasized that anti-Semitic statements should not go unpunished and has said the justice system will insist the comedian pay the high fines levied against him.  full story

International Federation of Resistance Fighters: Racism, the phase before Fascism, is spreading

Sofia, Bulgaria, 8.1.2014 1:09, (ROMEA) On 5 October 2013 the sixteenth congress of the International Federation of Resistance Fighters (FIR) was held in the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia. The significance of this meeting has been reported on by the website of the Czech Freedom Fighters' Union (Český svaz bojovníků za svobodu - ČSBS). News server Romea.cz brings you that report in translation:  full story

Russia: 20 people murdered last year in ideologically-motivated attacks

Moscow, Russia, 8.1.2014 0:31, (ROMEA) Last year a total of 20 people were murdered in Russia during ideologically-motivated attacks rooted in racism and xenophobia. That information has now been released by the non-governmental center for analysis, Sova, which has long monitored attacks on foreigners and immigrants there.  full story

Czech trial of men who forced girls and women into prostitution on the D5 highway begins

Kladno/Prague, 7.1.2014 22:43, (ROMEA) The Regional Court in Prague has begun handling the case of a seven-member gang of men from Kladno charged with regularly transporting women to a rest stop on the D5 highway not far from the town of Rudná near Prague for purposes of prostitution. According to the prosecution, the defendants took over the area and decided which women might engage in prostitution there.  full story

Czech Republic: Vice-mayor says Roma must fight for respect

Ralsko, 7.1.2014 21:38, (ROMEA) Oto Váradi is vice-mayor of the northern Bohemian village of Ralsko. News server Česká pozice has published an interview with him.  full story

Czech director of Association of Homeless Shelters on "A Night Outside"

Prague, 6.1.2014 22:09, (ROMANO VOĎI) In summer one can more or less live on the street, but in the winter it can cost you your life. In addition to a knapsack or plastic bag you also have to get yourself a blanket or a sleeping bag, and if you can't find an old mattress, you need to collect enough cardboard boxes to make your own.  full story

Czech Republic: Art is fined, but flags defaced by sports fans don't bother bureacrats

Prague, 6.1.2014 3:05, (ROMEA) The artist Tomáš Rafa has been fined over his recent exhibition of Czech-Roma flags. The same treatment should of course be given to those who write the names of their towns on the state flag or otherwise deface it, as the law on the use of state symbols says the flag must never be soiled, torn, or written on.  full story

Czech Senator Dienstbier to become Minister for Legislation, Human Rights and Equal Opportunities

Prague, 3.1.2014 17:14, (ROMEA) The administrative board of the Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) agreed today on its nominees for ministers to the incoming coalition government. Party chair Bohuslav Sobotka must first present the lineup to Czech President Miloš Zeman.  full story

Designer of Czech-Roma flag options protests absurd fine

Prague, 2.1.2014 21:48, (ROMEA) Slovak artist Tomáš Rafa is protesting against a fine levied against him by the Administrative Division of the Prague 7 Municipal Department for his creation of designs for a Czech-Roma flag. Rafa has filed an objection against the decision.  full story

Germany: Neo-Nazi leader resigns amid allegations of sexual assault

Berlin, Germany, 2.1.2014 17:18, (ROMEA) The chair of the anti-Semitic, racist National Democratic Party (NPD) in Germany, Holger Apfel, has given up all of his posts and left the party after 24 years of involvement. The former leader of the German neo-Nazis wrote today to the party membership that he was forced to resign by "internal intrigue, insulting dissension and rising pressure" which has exhausted him such that he no longer wants to deal with it.  full story

Citizens of Bulgaria and Romania can now work EU-wide, London fears influx of Roma

Athens/Brussels, 2.1.2014 16:33, (ROMEA) After a seven-year transitional period, all of the Member States of the European Union are now open to workers from Bulgaria and Romania as of 1 January 2014, prompting concerns in some countries. The change is happening as Greece assumes the EU presidency for the first half of the year.  full story