EveryOne Group

We are all Roma citizens. Let us take up the legacy of the gypsy heroes of May 16th 1944

Wed, 16 May 2012 22:17:50 +0200

On May 16th, 1944 four thousand Roma imprisoned in the “zigeunerlager” in Auschwitz decided to stand up to their murderers who according to programme had come to get them to lead them to the gas chambers.
 The most powerful and well-organized machine of oppression and death of all time found itself before human beings reduced to a pitiful state – swarms of children all skin and bone and barefoot women and men. It wasn’t only the men who decided not to bow their heads to these butchers in uniform; the scrawny hands of children and women picked up stones, bricks, iron rods and rudimentary blades and all together the Roma of Auschwitz cried “No! We will not give you our children to force through your chimneys. Your doctors have tortured so many of them already while experimenting their monstrous science.  The children’s screams rose high into the air, higher than the dense smoke issueing from the crematoriums, higher than our prayers. You will not wipe out our families after you have already taken away the precious gifts of freedom and dignity. We will not leave to your grasping hands, to your wicked hearts and your inhuman hatred the beauty of our lives, the sanctity of the love that unites our families in a poor yet proud people”.   The mothers held their younger children tightly to their chests as they fought; the young children defended the “zigeunerlager” until they were covered in blood, looking like the spirits of revenge in legends; dark-skinned arms brandished primitive weapons with tireless energy, until the SS retreated, astonished at the sight of their heroism, their superhuman courage as they faced the bullets and bayonets with their bare skin.
The SS retreated, taking with them many German corpses. Only on August 2nd, 1944 were the Nazis able to dispose of the “zigeunerlager” - after they’d left the Roma imprisoned in the “death factory” close to death by reducing their food ration to a minimum. 2,897 Roma heroes were assassinated in the gas chambers of Birkenau on one night alone.

Today, May 16th we are faced with the heirs of Hitler’s butchers. The instigators of this new genocide are the men and women we see every day in the newspapers and on TV, smiling, full of themselves, fresh from face lifts and make-up sessions, their sneering mouths full of words that sound like “Legality”, “Justice”, “Safety”, but which really mean “Persecution”, “Racism” and “Death”. We see them every day and they no longer wear party colours because they are united by hatred. They have no respect for anything: either for human life, or human rights, for the universal laws or the new Europe that speaks out against prejudice. They have encouraged violent acts and pogroms all over Italy, deceiving the Italian people with racist lies and fomenting xenophobic violence.  We who still see the light of human rights won’t be able to stop them, we who are all Roma now, we who want to be Roma because we want to be just, we will not be able to stop them if we do not decide right now to inherit the pride of the Auschwitz gypsies - if we do not decide to line up at the side of the persecuted families, and defy the authorities who no longer represent anything, the uniforms that no longer represent anything, the high-ranking state officials who have betrayed all values, who have no right to express themselves in the name of a people, of a civilization, of a humanity that – among so much horror – wrote up a text that was a commitment to build a better future for everyone: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Français

Nous sommes tous Rroms: recueillir l'héritage des héros
(texte traduit de l'italien par Saimir Mile - La Voix des Rroms)

Le 16 Mai 1944 quatre mille Rroms internés dans le "Zigeunerlager" à Auschwitz ont décidé de s'opposer à leurs tortionnaires, qui selon le programme nazi étaient venus les conduire dans les chambres à gaz. La population rromani, réduite à des conditions pitoyables, composée d'une nuée d'enfants qui n'avaient plus que la peau et les os, et de femmes et d'hommes pieds nus dans l'enfer, se trouvait face à la machine de mort et d'oppression la plus puissante et organisée de tous les temps. Pourtant ils n'étaient pas hommes et femme prêts à baisser la tête devant leurs bourreaux en uniforme impeccable; les mains décharnées des enfants et des femmes se mirent à ramasser pierres, briques, lames rudimentaires et pauvres armes de fortune. Tous les Roms d'Auschwitz décidèrent de dire : "Non!" à l'inhumanité.

"Non, nous ne vous donnerons pas nos enfants. Non, nous ne vous laisserons pas les évacuer en fume par vos cheminées. Vos médecins-tortionnaires ont déjà assez torture d'innocentes victimes, expérimentant leur science monstrueuse sur eux comme sur des rats. Leurs cris sont assez montés au ciel, encore plus haut que la fumée dense crachée par vos fours crématoires, encore plus haut que nos prières désespérées. Vous n'anéantirez plus nos familles, à qui vous avez enlevé liberté et dignité, notre trésor le plus si précieux. Nous ne laisserons plus à vos mains rapaces, à votre cœur macabre et à votre haine inhumaine, ni la beauté de notre vie, ni le caractère sacré de l'amour qui unit nos familles pauvres, mais fières. "

Les mères serraient les plus petits contre leur poitrine, tout en luttant contre les bourreaux déchaînés. Les jeunes gens défendirent le "Zigeunerlager" jusqu'à ce que le sang ne les couvre, les rendant semblables aux esprits de vengeance des légendes. Les bras maigres brandirent jusqu'à la tombée de la nuit des armes rudimentaires dans un élan infatigable, jusqu'à ce que les SS se retirent, terrifiés devant cet héroïsme et ce courage surhumains qui dressait la chair nues contre les balles et les baïonnettes de la mort. Les SS se retirèrent, emportant avec eux de nombreux cadavres allemands. Ce n'est que le 2 août 1944 que les nazis - après avoir affamé les Rroms prisonniers de l ' "usine de la mort", en limitant au minimum leur subsistance alimentaire, réussirent par le massacre à liquider le "Zigeunerlager." Cette nuit là, 2.897 héros rroms furent assassinés en une nuit dans les chambres à gaz de Birkenau administrativement pour "laisser la place aux martyrs juifs raflés à Budapest".

Aujourd'hui, le 16 mai 2008, nous sommes confrontés avec les héritiers des bourreaux d'Hitler. Les auteurs du nouveau crime de masse sont ces hommes et ces femmes que nous voyons tous les jours sur les pages des journaux et à la télévision, souriant, plein de grands airs supérieurs, refaits par le lifting et le maquillage, la bouche pleine de mots qui sonnent si beau "légalité", " justice ", "sécurité ", mais qui sont détournés de leur sens et signifient en réalité "persécution ","racisme" et "mort ". Nous les voyons tous les jours et ils n'ont plus de couleur, pour beaucoup ils sont devenus transparents, unis dans la routine et uniformisés par la haine. Comme les nazis, mais cette fois avec "un visage humain" et "un langage politiquement correct", ils ne respectent rien: ni la vie, ni les Droits de l'Homme, ni les lois universelles, ni la nouvelle Europe faite pour combattre préjugés. Ils viennent d'inciter à la violence et à des pogroms dans toute l'Italie, ils ne cessent de tromper les masses avec des calomnies racistes et l'incitation à la violence xénophobe. Nous ne les arrêterons pas d'un coup, nous qui sommes encore assez clairvoyants pour voir la lumière des Droits de l'Homme. Non, comme à Auschwitz et bien souvent dans l'Histoire, le combat est inégal, nous savons maintenant que nous sommes tous des Roms, nous voulons être tous des Rroms parce que nous voulons être justes. Nous ne les arrêterons pas dites-vous ? Pourtant nous croyons fermement que si, à condition de décider dès maintenant de nous ériger en héritiers de la fierté et de l'héroïsme des «tziganes» d'Auschwitz. A condition de nous combattre aux côtés des familles persécutées en remettant en question ces autorités déshumanisées qui ne représentent plus rien, ces uniformes qui ne signifient plus rien, ces plus hautes fonctions de l'État qui ont trahi toute valeur et toute humanité sous des prétextes de plus en plus cousis de fil blanc. De quelle légitimité réelle ces gens-là se réclament-ils lorsqu'ils fondent des actes et des décisions juridiques sur une identité ethnique ? Ont-ils le droit, ces gens-là, de prendre la parole au nom d'un peuple, d'une civilisation, d'une humanité, qui au-delà de tant d'horreurs - a donné au monde un texte d'une insigne générosité, engagement magnifique à construire un avenir meilleur pour tout le monde: la Déclaration universelle des droits de l'homme.

Urgent: Stop the killing of 4 Iranian Men!

Mon, 14 May 2012 22:34:02 +0200

The prominent American activist Gary Virginia responded to the appeal launched by EveryOne Group for the lives of Vahid Akbari, Sahadat Arefi, Javid Akbari and Akbari Hushmand. Here is his letter to the institutions.
 May 13, 2012

TO: Iran Government

With all due respect, we Americans who stand for equality and respect for ALL humanity, including the men and women of IRAN, request that you STOP the proposed hanging of four Iranian men: Vahid Akbari, Sahadat Arefi, Javid Akbari and Hushmand Akbari.  We do not feel they received a FAIR TRIAL and we feel this proposed action to kill your own brothers is not in agreement with the teachings of ISLAM, a religion that preaches PEACE, COMPASSION and LOVE.  For any innocent life taken, whether one is alleged to be homosexual or acting on their personal sexual orientation by birth, it is a MARK AGAINST YOUR OWN SOUL for taking a life. You did not CREATE LIFE and you do not have the RIGHT to KILL, especially by the brutal act of hanging.  We appeal to you to STOP this NOW! Deport the individuals if you feel necessary. But taking a life is never JUSTICE!

PLEASE, stop and consider your actions and where your hate or discomfort is coming from. Does it bring you joy or happiness to kill another? It is not justice. It is a deep hate for your own unhappiness and need to control others.

I pray for you to make an HONORABLE decision and STOP the proposed punishment of these four innocent men.

Thank you,

Mr. Gary Virginia
Amnesty International, Member
Human Rights Commission LGBT Advisory Committee, San Francisco, CA, USA (past service)
Executive Committee, Gays Without Borders/San Francisco, CA, USA
Past President, Positive Resource Center, CA, USA
American Civil Liberties Union, Northern CA, USA, Member

cc:
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights
European Union Commissioner for Human Rights
Organization for Islamic Cooperation
Islamic Human Rights Commission
US President Barack Obama
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
EveryOne Group

In the photo, Gary Virginia

Iran: urgent appeal to save the lives of four gay men

Sun, 13 May 2012 23:37:57 +0200

Tehran, May 13, 2012. The Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic of Iran has confirmed the death sentence for four homosexual men: Vahid Akbari, Sahadat Arefi, Javid Akbari and Hushmand Akbari. Sharia - or Islamic law – identifies homosexuals as "Enemies of Allah" who are to be persecuted or put to death.  This bloodthirsty intolerance casts a shadow of cruelty over Islam, a religion that preaches peace, compassion and love. EveryOne Group is asking the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights, the European Union Commissioner for Human Rights, the Organization for Islamic Cooperation, the Islamic Human Rights Commission and civil society to support our call for the defence of the lives of these four young homosexual men and all those who suffer persecution because of their natural orientation.

Roberto Malini, Matteo Pegoraro, Dario Picciau - EveryOne Group

Sign the Petition:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/urgent-stop-the-hanging-of-four-men-for-sodomy-in-i.html

The EveryOne’s campaign against the human trafficking: a letter from Tel Aviv

Sun, 13 May 2012 23:34:47 +0200

Tel Aviv (Israel), May 11, 2012. Dear EveryOne Group's Members, I highly appreciate to your endless humanitarian effort being commited to the ethical and moral values of human's right dignity that you are actively engaged in exposing the dangers facing to Eritreans at this full of crises time in sinai.

All that had been a legend or a fiction, now we are truly able to witnessing ground, while human like beasts are mercilessly hunting the organs of many Eritreans men and women including children. And this displays that human beings are steping to another unsecure dark age of evil toritory. We pray to God to end it with help of many like you peace and justice seekers.

I am very inspired by the foundation of true information you provide to me on time. Thank you very much again for your endless human rights struggle.

O. - Eritrean Human Rights Defender, Tel aviv (Israel)

Prevent the extradition from the UK of Toma Nikolaev, facing jail in Bulgaria

Wed, 9 May 2012 15:41:47 +0200

Appeal to:
- the Westminster Magistrates' Court
- Queen Elizabeth II
- the Government and Parliament of the United Kingdom
- the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres
- the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navi Pillay
- the European Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muiznieks
- the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz
- all civil society

Rome / London, May 8, 2012. European civilization is in crisis. Xenophobia, racism and intolerance are spreading across all social sectors, resulting in the marginalization of many groups. The Roma are both one of the most numerous and the most seriously effected by this phenomenon. Their conditions of poverty and vulnerability render them easy scapegoats, as happened in the darkest periods of the 20th Century.

So we are seeing evictions, expulsions and outright attacks everywhere, even in countries that like to consider themselves "advanced". In some countries, such as Italy, the authorities have resorted to persecuting human rights defenders, subjecting them to criminal prosecution, abuse and intimidation.

Toma Nikolaev is a well-respected Roma rights activist and former candidate MP. Persecuted in Bulgaria due to his criticism of the apartheid that excludes most of Bulgaria's 700,000 Roma, he was directing editor of the bilingual newspaper DeFacto until its closure.

Fearing for his life after a bomb was placed near his home, Mr. Nikolaev sought asylum in the UK. A long, uncompleted process followed during which Nikolaev continued to help fellow Roma. He joined the campaign to save the Dale Farm community, which was
broken up by the riot police assault on the estate on 19 October 2011.

On April 8, 2012 Toma Nikolaev attended a sit-in front of the Bulgarian Embassy in London to mark Roma Nation Day. Shortly after he was arrested under a European warrant and he spent three days in custody before being released on bail. He is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court at 9:30am on 22nd May.
This is the first time a prominent Roma political activist has been brought before this court, which is reserved for extradition and terrorism cases.
Mr. Nikolaev faces extradition back to Bulgaria, where he would have to continue a prison sentence imposed for his criticism of the government .

The Roma in Bulgaria make up 8% of the population, live mostly in segregated neighbourhoods and are suffering 70% unemployment. In this condition of social exclusion, Roma activists are subject to judicial and police persecution, as well as violence from nationalist and racist movements, in particular the Atak Party. That is why we believe it is unsafe for Mr Nikoleav, his wife and children, to return to Bulgaria
and appeal to the Westminster Magistrates' Court to dismiss the extradition proceedings brought by the Bulgarian state and allow Toma Nikolaev to remain in the UK, where he wishes to apply for political asylum.

Our appeal is also addressed to Queen Elizabeth II, and the Government and Parliament of the United Kingdom. We are asking them to intervene in the case of Toma Nikolaev, thus offering the European Union and the world an example of civility and respect for human rights. We also urge the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres; the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navi Pillay; the European Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muiznieks; the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, and all civil society not to remain indifferent to a paradigmatic case of the current conditions of the Roma people and those who defend their rights. We hope there will be a just and humanitarian verdict in the case of Toma Nikolaev, and extend to all recipients of this appeal our best regards.

* Http://www.presstv.ir/detail/166745.html

For International Romani Union, Grattan Puxon
For EveryOne Group, the Co-Presidents Roberto Malini, Matteo Pegoraro, Dario Picciau
For Nazione Rom, the President Marcello Zuinisi
For Watching The Sky Association, the President Alfred Breitman
For Dale Farm Residents Association, chairman Richard Sheridan

In the photo, members of the nationalist Ataka party wear t-shirts with the slogan "I don't want to live in a Gypsy country" during a protest in Sofia.

Slavery in Sinai. An urgent appeal to the Egyptian Prime Minister

Sat, 5 May 2012 20:42:55 +0200

Saturday, May 5, 2012
Prime Minister Kamal el-Ganzouri
Arab Republic of Egypt
Cairo

Cc
High Commissioner UNHCR, Antonio Guterres
Commissioner OHCHR, Navi Pillay
Human Trafficking Office of the UN

Excellency
The members of the International Commission on Eritrean Refugees and EveryOne Group are very much concerned about the wanton kidnapping of unsuspecting refugees and their imprisonment in deplorable conditions for months, sometimes for years, until they pay the ransom money demanded by criminals in the Sinai Peninsula. This complicated but elaborate system of slavery taking place in this day and age is facilitated by elements in the Sudan who facilitate the kidnapping and shipment to the Sinai. What is more distressing is that the security forces of your country are turning a blind eye to these human practices, sometimes even participating in it. Furthermore, the higher authorities are unmindful of the gross human rights violation occurring in front of their eyes and are either insensitive to the plight of the refugees or are overwhelmed by the open banditry, which is so pervasive in the Sinai territory, to take steps to put an end to it.
We have reliable reports coming out of Egypt (and sad witness accounts from the victims themselves) that human organ harvesting is definitely occurring in the Egyptian territories. Killing hostages is very common, especially for the ones who are unable to come up with the exorbitant price that will save their lives. The ransom request, which was reasonable enough a few years ago, has now reached 40,000 USD which nobody can afford to pay. The fortunate ones who are able to free themselves from the clutches of the hostage takers leave their families destitute and heart broken after paying the ransom with tremendous difficulty. We urge your Government to pay close attention to the crimes being committed in Egypt. Under the Geneva Convention of 1951, that your country signed, agreeing to respect and abide by, you have an obligation to protect refugees fleeing their homeland for political reasons complicated by economic hardship.
Currently there are over three hundred Eritreans in Egyptian prisons destined for deportation back to Eritrea, a country they fled from. Sending these people back to Eritrea is tantamount to condemning them to long term imprisonment and even worse, death in the hands of the autocratic rulers of that tiny nation in the Horn of Africa. We have heard from the prisoners themselves that they are being subjected to constant torture by prison officials and are threatened by forcible removal, not to Ethiopia where they will at least feel safe, but back to Eritrea.
We are appealing to you, therefore, to protect Eritreans from being subjected to lawless elements in the Sinai that have little disregard for law and order, as well as to stop the deportations of the victims back to Eritrea where harsh treatment awaits them. As members of the international community it is our duty to abide by what is human. Failing to take appropriate action to put an end to the crimes committed in your territory, including the torture and the threat of deportation back to Eritrea, we may have to call on international law to take its course to stem or stop the process of deportation, torture, extortion and death being suffered by innocent men and women from Eritrea.

Yebio Woldemariam, Ph.D
International Commission on
Eritrean refugees (ICER)

Roberto Malini, Matteo Pegoraro, Dario Picciau
Co-Presidents of EveryOne Group

In the photo, Kamal El-Ganzouri

Eritrean refugees. EU Parlamentary question

Fri, 4 May 2012 12:50:40 +0200

EU Parlamentary question . 118 young forced under torture to sign voluntary repatriation documents.

Milan, May 5, 2012. Note from EveryOne Group: the international campaign for the salvation of 118 Eritrean prisoners has achieved important results. Over 50 young refugees have already been transferred to Ethiopia where they are now in good health. Together with the NGO Gandhi, we are constantly asking the UNHCR to follow the other refugees, and ensure they too are taken to Ethiopia. In addition to the UNHCR, the OHCHR and the European Parliament will also be monitoring the fate of the other Eritrean prisoners in Egypt. As soon as they too are safe, we will post the news.
 23 November 2011 Subject: 118 young Eritrean refugees forced under torture to sign voluntary repatriation documents 
Answer(s)
EveryOne Group has issued a press release detailing the terrible situation faced by detainees at Aswan prison in Egypt, where about 300 Eritrean refugees are being held in appalling sanitary conditions and subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment on a daily basis.  According to the information released by EveryOne Group, most of the refugees have come from the prison camps run by traffickers in northern Sinai, where they were subjected to torture, beatings and rape. In the last few days, 118 Catholic young Eritrean men were summoned by the prison guards one by one, and asked to sign documents in which they agreed to voluntary repatriation. When the refugees refused, explaining that they would be persecuted in Eritrea — and in many cases murdered — the guards subjected them to torture and beatings, forcing them to sign the papers. The Muslim Eritreans did not suffer the same treatment. The young men who signed the papers are now awaiting deportation.  In the light of the extremely serious situation outlined above, does the Commission not think it should make an urgent appeal to the Minister for the Interior of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and to the Egyptian embassies, to ensure that those responsible for torturing and beating the 118 refugees are brought to justice and that the Eritrean prisoners receive international protection as provided for under the Geneva Convention on Refugees?  In addition, does it not think it should endorse the urgent appeal launched by EveryOne Group, the Gandhi Association and the network of NGOs for the rights of refugees to the Secretary‑General of the United Nations and the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment, to use all their political, legal and humanitarian powers to put a stop to the killing, torture, beatings, unfair detentions and deportations of Eritrean and sub-Saharan refugees?

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=WQ&reference=E-2011-010566&format=XML&language=EN

***

29 February 2012
E-010566/11 - E-012089/11 - P-012191/11

Joint answer given by High Representative/Vice‑President Ashton on behalf of the Commission
Written questions : E-010566/11 , E-012089/11 , P-012191/11

According to the Egyptian Ministry of the Interior, Sub-Saharan refugees are victims of gangs involved in human trafficking. The government led by Prime Minister Al-Ganzouri appointed on 7 December 2011 indicated that the Sinai is a strategic priority which should receive greater attention. It raises hope that the fight against organised crime will be intensified and that the Egyptian authorities will show more commitment in addressing the issue of refugees held hostages by human traffickers in the Sinai.

As regards the refugees detained by the Egyptian authorities, they are considered ‘infiltrators’ because they have crossed the border illegally and have not applied to the Egyptian authorities or to the UNHCR for asylum. UNHCR has been denied access to the detention facilities. Since September 2011, the Egyptian authorities have begun to expel these individuals to their countries of origin. The UNHCR has warned the Egyptian authorities that such expulsions could amount to a refoulement.

The EU Delegation in Cairo has met repeatedly with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Interior to express its concerns regarding this issue but progress has so far been limited. The EU will continue to urge the Egyptian authorities to ensure the respect for human rights, including the protection of migrants and refugees. The EU has repeatedly invited Egypt to develop and improve the quality of the assistance and protection offered to asylum‑seekers and refugees residing or transiting on their territory. The EU has also pressed the Egyptian authorities to ensure that the principle of non-refoulement is observed for all migrants in need of international protection while UNHCR is given full possibility to implement its mandate on the entire territory of Egypt.

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getAllAnswers.do?reference=E-2011-010566&language=EN

The activist Phien O'Reachtigan becomes a member of EveryOne Group

Fri, 4 May 2012 12:48:37 +0200

Wednesday, May 2, 2012. Phien O'Reachtigan, a human rights defender, very active in defending Roma rights in the Dale Farm eviction in Kent, and a community representative for Irish Travellers, is now a member of EveryOne Group.  This is how Phien introduces himself: "I am a Pavee, we are known in Britain and Ireland as 'Irish Travellers'. We are, as all nomadic people over the world are, treated with distain and hate especially within both countries mentioned.

I have for years fought sometimes a single battle against injustice served up as British Justice on my People, i have worked and supported Roma in the Uk and at this date im endeavouring to work with Czech Roma in the south of England but im finding it very hard because of the mistrust factor, which i fully understand.

I have worked with Grattan Puxon and well known to him. I have been following you ordeals at the hands of the authorities as you carry out vital humanitarian work and give help and support to people not only abandoned by the state but victimised by it. I would be very interested in joining your organisation and perhaps making more people aware of it in the Uk.

I wish you a peaceful farewell in the language of my people.
An munia tober (which translates as "The good road")
Phien".

In the photo, barricades at the Dale Farm

Canada: Free trade can be conducted without sacrificing the Roma rights

Thu, 3 May 2012 16:07:49 +0200

EveryOne Group supports the appeal made by William Bila and calls for urgent action on this matter by the European Commission

To the European Commission of Trade and the European Commission of Justice

Dear Commissioner Hon. Karel De Gucht and Commissioner Hon. Viviane Reding:

Thursday, May 3, 2012. I am deeply disturbed by the fact that the free trade negotiations with Canada have been the cause for immigration reform in Canada that will essentially prevent Roma refugees from leaving Europe and asking for asylum in Canada.I am writing to you as an EU citizen who supports free trade, but not at the expense of human rights and justice towards those who have legitimate claims according to the Geneva conventions of 1951.  In order to enact the free trade deal, Canada must lift visas on the Czech Republic and other EU countries where members of the Roma minority are unable to obtain equal access to justice, i.e. police protection, education, healthcare, housing and employment opportunities. These facts have been demonstrated time and again by decisions made by the European court of justice, decisions which have yet to be enforced with respect to desegregating schools in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In order to fulfill EU demands, Canada is fast tracking legislation that will nullify its obligations under the Geneva conventions. Why are the EU Trade and Justice commissions bullying Canada into this? Hungary has clearly not lived up to its obligations, which has made it the number one source of refugees arriving in Canada today. Yet, the EU is preventing any embarrassment to the Hungarian government, by forcing Canada to accept these terms. Is it right for the EU to stand in solidarity with a member government who is not living up to its human rights obligations?

The Canadian government is ignoring human rights, because it believes that is what is necessary to obtain a free trade deal. I believe this is wrong. We should not conclude a free trade deal with any government that is willing to sacrifice trade for human rights.

I ask you to intervene. Please stop the free trade deal. It is wrong to force Roma to stay in countries where they cannot obtain equal access to justice, police protection, healthcare, education or job opportunities. Whether Roma seek new lives in other EU countries or in Canada is moot. What is wrong is to close the door on them.

Up until 2008 Canada admitted 95% of Roma refugees from the Czech Republic. The only reason this stopped is because the current government of Canada has been waging a public campaign calling these refugees “bogus”. This campaign has been at the root of Canadian immigration reform, that will eliminate this embarrassment for certain EU member states.
I am embarrassed that the EU could stand for this. I am embarrassed that the EU can sweep human rights under the carpet and allow negligent member states to save face, and avoid the reforms that are necessary.

Pursuing the free trade deal with Canada under these circumstances is in effect saying, “We approve of our member states’ persecution of the Roma, and our trade partners need to allow this persecution to continue in Hungary, Romania, Italy, etc.”

This is morally reprehensible. Free trade can be conducted without sacrificing human rights. I ask you to please stop the free trade deal with Canada under current circumstances. Canada should not reform its refugee and immigration system so that our member states can continue to persecute Roma.

William Bila - World Artists Initiative Khetanes

The brotherhood and love are stronger than persecution

Thu, 3 May 2012 15:21:11 +0200

The brotherhood and love are stronger than persecution. Hugs to all who have supported us. Roberto Malini

La hermandad y el amor son más fuertes que la persecución. Un fuerte abrazo a todos los que nos han apoyado. Roberto Malini

La fratellanza e l'amore sono più forti della persecuzione. Un abbraccio a tutti coloro che ci hanno sostenuti. Roberto Malini
In the photo by Steed Gamero, the human rights defender Roberto Malini (Le Nuove Museum, Turin).