France Rejects UN Criticism on Roma Crackdown
France’s government said it respects human rights “scrupulously” in connection with its deportation of Roma immigrants after a United Nations agency criticized harshly their expulsion.
The Geneva-based UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination said in a report that it’s “worried about the rise of racist behavior and violence against Roma” in France. According to it collective expulsions violate international law.
The UN Committee is particularly worried by what it sees as an increase in violent racist demonstrations against Roma immigrants. It notes, since France presented its report to the Committee two weeks ago, a number of Roma have collectively been deported to their countries of origin.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said in an e- mailed statement that France abides by European and international rules.
MORE ARTICLE
SPECIAL: The Situation in France
