Czech Republic

Expert says Czech society's discussion of Islam is the worst in Europe

26.2.2015 0:25, (ROMEA) "The discussion [of Islam] in the Czech Republic is not substantive, we are deceiving ourselves," says Miloš Mendel, an Arabist and Islamologist at Masaryk University in an interview for news server Aktuálně.cz. When asked what bothers him so much about the Czech discussion of Islam, he answered as follows:  full story

Czech trial continues of racially motivated attack on Romani family in their home

25.2.2015 18:57, (ROMEA) In mid-February the trial resumed of a man who has been charged with committing racially motivated grievous bodily harm, violence against an ethnic group and individuals, illegal drug production, trespassing, property destruction and making threats under the influence of addictive substances. News server Romea.cz has previously reported on this case here  full story

Survey on Czech Romani Inclusion Strategy: Most Romani people know almost nothing about it

Prague, 24.2.2015 23:55, (ROMEA) On Monday, 23 February, the Czech Government approved two key documents, the Romani Integration Strategy to 2020 and a report on the fulfillment of the Strategy to Combat Social Exclusion. News server Romea.cz has contacted several figures with a survey of questions about these documents.  full story

Czech education experts: What is needed for inclusion

Prague, 24.2.2015 20:55, (ROMEA) Is Czech society heading toward a fair school system that will not discriminate against medically disabled or socially disadvantaged children? A system that will not discriminate against children because they are Romani?  full story

Survey on Czech Romani Inclusion Strategy: Does affirmative action make sense?

Prague, 24.2.2015 19:42, (ROMEA) On Monday, 23 February, the Czech Government approved two key documents, the Romani Integration Strategy to 2020 and a report on the fulfillment of the Strategy to Combat Social Exclusion. News server Romea.cz has contacted several figures with a survey of questions about these documents  full story

Czech Republic: From anti-Romani demos to lack of social housing law, social inclusion is slow

Prague, 24.2.2015 18:48, (ROMEA) Is the fight against social exclusion succeeding in the Czech Republic? Do the most impoverished ghetto occupants have a chance at a normal life, at moving away from hopelessness and toward decent employment, education, and a life free of fear?  full story

Czech Republic: From anti-Romani demos to lack of social housing law, social inclusion is slow

Prague, 24.2.2015 18:48, (ROMEA) Is the fight against social exclusion succeeding in the Czech Republic? Do the most impoverished ghetto occupants have a chance at a normal life, at moving away from hopelessness and toward decent employment, education, and a life free of fear?  full story

Czech cabinet adopts Romani Integration Strategy to 2020

Prague, 24.2.2015 0:57, (ROMEA) On Monday 23 February the Czech Government approved its Romani Integration Strategy to 2020. The material includes measures in education, employment, housing and security policy that are intended to help reverse the adverse developments and deterioration in the situation of Romani people and compare conditions for them to those enjoyed by other members of the population.  full story

Commentary: Boorishness triumphs at Czech Lion ceremony

Prague, 23.2.2015 20:50, (ROMEA) It might seem that this year's Czech Lion awards are a sign of greater maturity, openness, and self-criticism by this country about its culture, film criticism, and society in general. "The Way Out" (Cesta ven), an authentic, challenging drama about impoverished Romani people from a ghetto that viewers might find hard to watch was not only awarded best film, but won in the most categories overall.  full story

Interview with Czech education reformer on legislative progress

Prague, 23.2.2015 19:29, (ROMEA) "The system has not yet facilitated an education for some children corresponding to their actual educational potential, which has a direct impact on their options for future professions. I believe the situation will finally begin to change now," says Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková, who worked on reforming the schools in the direction of inclusive education at the Czech Education Ministry back when Ondřej Liška was minister. Today she is involved in the discussion of this issue as the chair of the Czech Professional Society for Inclusive Education (ČOSIV).  full story

Film about Roma wins seven Czech Lion awards, but director doubts it means society cares

Prague, 23.2.2015 0:09, (ROMEA) This year's awards from the Czech Film and Television Academy, the Czech Lion, were dominated by "The Way Out" (Cesta ven), a film by Petr Václav. The most prestigious categories, such as best film, best director and best screenplay, all went to "The Way Out".
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Czech Republic: Even other Islamophobes reject the DSSS

Prague, 22.2.2015 22:26, (ROMEA) Even the current wave of anti-Islamic sentiment in the Czech Republic failed to attract a larger amount of people to an assembly convened by the Workers Social Justice Party (DSSS) against immigration and Islam yesterday. About 40 people turned out to listen to a speech by DSSS leader Tomáš Vandas on the Old Town Square in Prague.  full story

Czech Republic: Demonstration in favor of receiving refugees

Prague, 22.2.2015 0:16, (ROMEA) Approximately 150 demonstrators gathered in Prague on 20 February for an event called "Refugees, welcome". The protest against racism and xenophobia aimed to support the reception of refugees by the Czech Republic, particularly those from war-torn Syria.  full story

Romani actresses from "The Way Out" nominated for Czech Lion prize

Prague, 21.2.2015 20:32, (ROMEA) Petr Václav's film "The Way Out" (Cesta ven) has been nominated in six categories for the Czech Lion film prize, which will be awarded today, Saturday 21 February, at 20:00 in the Rudolfinum in Prague and broadcast live by Czech Television. Claudia Dudová has been nominated for best performance by an actress in a leading role, while Mária Ferencová-Zajacová has been nominated for best performance by an actress in a supporting role.  full story

Czech Republic: Ultra-right demonstration against "Islamization" to be counter-protested

Prague, 20.2.2015 23:32, (ROMEA) On Saturday 21 February yet another demonstration against immigration and "Islamization", this time organized by ultra-right extremists from the Workers Social Justice Party (DSSS) will take place on the Old Town Square in Prague. A half an hour prior to the DSS event, a religious assembly "For peace and tolerance among people" has been announced at the same location, organized by the Christian initiative "To Live Together in Peace" and the Konexe association.  full story

Czech Republic: Both sides appeal verdict over racist discussion posts

Prague, 20.2.2015 21:42, (ROMEA) News server Romea.cz was the first to report several days ago on the groundbreaking verdict handed down by the Municipal Court in Prague sentencing the publisher of the Parlamentní listy online tabloid, the OUR MEDIA company, to payment of a fine of CZK 150 000 (EUR 5 447) for failing to remove racist content posted to its online discussion board beneath two articles. Jan Holoubek, chair of the board of OUR MEDIA, has confirmed to news server Romea.cz that OUR MEDIA has now appealed.  full story

Czech Republic: Did Romani people traffic in votes in Brno?

20.2.2015 1:55, (ROMEA) The question of whether a racketeering operation was involved in vote-buying during last fall's municipal elections in Brno depends on how racketeering is defined. On 17 February the Czech Constitutional Court overturned a decision that had invalidated the results of that poll in the Brno-sever municipal department.
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Czech court rules Romani NGO must return money to Regional Authority

Liberec, 20.2.2015 0:57, (ROMEA) The Liberec Romani Association (Liberecké romské sdružení - LRS) must return CZK 2.6 million (EUR 95 000) to the Liberec Regional Authority plus 8.05 % interest, according to a recent court verdict. The NGO will also have to pay CZK 133 000 (EUR 4 860) in court fees.  full story

Czech Republic: "Counter-petition" asks for Romani inclusion in schools

Czech Republic, 19.2.2015 23:40, (ROMEA) Several years ago, the "white" parents of first-graders sent the following message to the director of a primary school in Brno: "We are asking that the first grade cohorts in the school be created such that the non-Romani children will be together in one and the Romani children in the other. We are warning you that if there are more than three Romani children in the class, we will enroll our children in a different school."  full story

Czech poll finds more optimism, but also more fear of immigrants

Prague, 19.2.2015 21:27, (ROMEA) Last year the optimism of Czechs grew significantly in many areas of public life. According to most people, however, the situation with respect to immigration has deteriorated in the Czech Republic, as has the security situation.  full story