It’s time the authorites cried halt to anti-Roma violence by fascist thugs
As has been documented by numerous human rights organisations, the past 18 months have seen a significant increase in anti-Roma violence orchestrated by far-right fascist groups in many European countries, which has been more critical in Hungary than anywhere else.
In this time, at least nine Roma have been killed, the latest victim a mother from the village of Kissléta on August 2. In this instance, like many others, the attackers targeted families and children.
As reported by the European Roma Rights Centre the attacks in Hungary against Roma include firebombing, shooting, stabbing, beating and other acts of violence.
The Irish Traveller Movement is deeply concerned by the lack of political condemnation of the attacks on Roma and is calling on the Hungarian government to denounce the latest manifestation of anti-Roma racism.
We find it remarkable that less than 70 years after the horrors perpetuated against the Jews and Roma by the Nazis that any government would fail to protect ethnic groups that are targeted with violence with such impunity. We are also calling on the Irish Government strongly to condemn these attacks and the hate-filled rhetoric which fuels them at a national and European level.
Closer to home we have already witnessed how Roma are quickly scapegoated by racist thugs and subjected to violence, and call on all EU member states to protect the most vulnerable groups in our societies and meet the human rights commitments they have signed up to.
This upsurge in murderous violence in Hungary is particularly worrying given that Hungary has just finished its presidency of the ‘Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2015’. We urge the Government in Hungary to show real leadership in tackling anti-Roma racism.
Jim O’Brien
Chair
Irish Traveller Movement
Eustace Street
Dublin 2
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