Europe - New Fascism Hunts Roma

[BridgeTheGap]

BRUSSELS, Nov 13 (IPS) - A political ideology based on the
desire to exterminate Roma gypsies is emerging in parts of
Europe, a Brussels conference has been told.

Following a number of violent attacks on Roma by skinheads
and other extremists in Bulgaria, it was announced during
August 2007 that the far-right National Guard party was being
established.

The 'anti-gypsyism' advocated by its leader Vladimir Rasate
could be compared to the anti-Semitism that helped bring the
Nazis to power in 1930s Germany, according to Michael
Stewart, professor of anthropology at University College
London. "With the National Guard party, the disposing of the
Roma is seen as a basis for national renewal," said Stewart,
who has worked extensively with Roma communities in former
communist countries. "This is a new phenomenon in Europe that
has not existed before. It is a real danger."

Stewart's comments, delivered to a hearing in the European
Parliament Nov. 13, echo the findings of a recent report on
hate crime against Roma by Human Rights First. The New York-
based organisation stated that for Roma in some countries
"the newly virulent anti-gypsyism is an eerie reminder of the
Porrajmos, the Romany Holocaust during the Second World War
that killed more than half of Europe's Roma population.

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=44695

[aquart]

1. Always fun to hear Europeans talk about human beings as vermin.

They never seem to have a problem with it.

[Tartiflette]

4. Generalizations never help

Some of us do, aquart.

[AllieB]

2. We have a friend from Italy who has expressed this prejudice.

It's shocking because he's far left and hates Berlusconi, but these prejudices run very deep apparently.

[wake.up.america]

3. I occassionaly run into Romans in Wien.

they don't have an easy time at it, Some try to lead a more sedentary lifestyle, but have problems adjusting.

[Stuckinthebush]

5. I must admit, I don't understand the anti-gypsy thing

What's the story surrounding the intense hatred of gypsies?