ERRC Condemns Hitler Hate Speech Against Roma

The European Roma Rights Centre strongly condemns a French politician’s
recent remark about Roma suggesting that “Maybe Hitler did not kill enough.” The
comment, made by Gilles Bourdouleix, an MP and Mayor of the western town of
Cholet, is completely unacceptable. Unfortunately, this incident does not
reflect an isolated position. This is just the latest example of racist and
discriminatory remarks by French politicians targeting Roma and Traveller
communities and individuals in France.

Roma and Traveller communities face widespread racism and discrimination, and
are unacceptably used as scapegoats by public officials in France. Unfortunately,
the political climate in France today allows Mr Bourdouleix and others to
express their prejudices and hatred without sanctions.

In June 2013, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a Roma settlement in Hellemes.
Following the incident, Didier Réault, the Deputy Mayor of Marseille, wrote on
Twitter, “Soon in Marseille Capelette the same action”. Capelette is one of the
biggest Roma settlements in Marseille. Réault did not withdraw his statement and
said there was an overreaction when people blamed him for “incitement to murder”.
Jean-Marie Le Pen, the former leader of the Front National, described the
presence of Roma as "irritant and smelly” on 5 July 2013. In July 2013, the MP
and Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, called on all the Mayors of France to, “a
revolt against the Gens du Voyage [Travellers] settling illegally on pieces of
land they don’t own”. He said, "I have put down others; I will put them down as
well”.

France submitted its national strategy on Roma inclusion to the European
Commission earlier this year, committing itself to address the problems of Roma
and Travellers. President Hollande has promised to find ‘humane’ solutions to
the problems of Roma. Racist comments by public officials lead to an environment
of fear and mistrust, which runs completely counter to principles of inclusion
and integration. These examples reflect a deep-rooted racism in the French
political system.

France needs to promptly respond and to deal with racist, stigmatising
language or behaviour that incites discrimination against Roma. Without systemic
measures to fight discrimination and racism towards Roma, the implementation of
any policy on Roma inclusion in France will completely fail.