News server Romea.cz. Everything about Roma in one place

News server Romea.cz. Everything about Roma in one place

AI calls on Czech PM to prevent anti-Romany attacks

22 October 2012
1 minute read

The Amnesty International (AI) organisation today asked Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek that his government take measures to stop the intensifying attacks against the country’s Romany community, AI Czech Republic officials told CTK.

"The authorities must duly enquire into all cases of racially motivated attacks, and to impose punishments on the perpetrators that would correspond to the seriousness of their guilt," the AI wrote in a letter sent to Topolanek.

After a number of extremist radicals’ demonstrations, attacks on Romanies culminated at night on Sunday when unknown perpetrators threw Molotov cocktails into a house inhabited by a Romany family in Vitkov, north Moravia. Three people were injured. A two-year-old girl is in a critical condition.

"Czech politicians and mainly the government must resolutely condemn all displays of hatred and intolerance, whoever their target. They must make it clear that such conduct is unacceptable and unlawful," said Fotis Filippou from the AI.

The AI recalled in the letter that it had pointed to extremists’ anti-Romany activities last year but the government failed to condemn them sufficiently at the time.

"Moreover, Czech society has got polarised also as a result of unacceptable comments on the Romany minority by certain significant political leaders," AI wrote.

Representatives of several Romany organisations today said that the lenience of authorities and politicians has resulted in attacks against Romanies which bear symptoms of terrorism.

The Romany leaders have called for protective guards to be formed to cooperate with the police and local authorities in protecting Romanies’ safety.

The government wants to apply not only repression but also prevention in fighting against right-wing extremism, Topolanek said today, adding that a new strategy in this respect is to be adopted in a fortnight.

Help us share the news about Romas
Trending now icon