Archive: Society | Minorities Minorities
Romani dying out in Czech Republic, but not as fast as feared
The Romany language is dying out in the Czech Republic, but not as rapidly
as some had feared, suggests a survey conducted by linguists at Prague’s
Charles University. The results of the first study of its kind in this
country suggest that around 30 percent of the Czech Republic’s Roma
minority are fluent Romani speakers. Earlier today, I met one of the
survey’s authors, Helena Sadílková, and asked her first whether the
Romani spoken in the Czech Republic varied from that spoken elsewhere in
Europe:
More
Several charged after police mount biggest operation against Czech neo-Nazis
Political extremism, especially on the far right, has been a big issue in
the Czech Republic over the last six months, with a strong perception that
it is on the rise. It may have been a coincidence, but on Tuesday the
subject was all over the news for a variety of reasons. Police arrested a
number of neo-Nazis and announced the setting up of new riot squads, while
many of the country’s political leaders signed a declaration condemning
extremism. More
Top Czech Radio Roma reporter applies for asylum in Canada
On Wednesday it emerged that the head of Czech Radio’s Roma programming
Anna Poláková had applied for asylum in Canada. The reporter said that
she and her family could no longer cope with the constant attacks they
found themselves under, leading her employers, Czech Radio, to speak out
against rising levels of xenophobia in the Czech Republic.
More
Footage of Czech Roma camping in Toronto airport fuels speculation visas may be reintroduced
Images of several Czech Romany families setting up home in a Toronto
airport were aired by Canadian television over the weekend. On Wednesday,
Czech authorities said the last of those pictured had moved out from the
airport to a nearby town, but the images have fuelled speculation that visa
restrictions may well be reintroduced for Czechs traveling to the North
American state.
More
Czech media getting bad press over extremism
The Czech media is regularly ranked as one of the freest in the world, but
recent events have called into question how well that freedom is utilised
where political extremism is involved. Stemming from a number of heavily
publicised incidents in recent weeks, many people are asking if it’s in
fact media attention that’s actually feeding the occurrence of right-wing
extremism. This week’s Talking Point discusses the events that have brought the journalists
themselves into the spotlight.
More
Experts believe extremism is being fed by media attention
With the elections to the European Parliament coming up, political parties
in the Czech Republic are trying to get their issues to the fore. Out of
the sidelines of that effort however another issue has commanded attention
over the last month and that is the problem of extremist political
organisations and their presence in the media.
More
Czech Television put on the spot over anti-Roma election clips
Public service broadcaster Czech Television has sparked a major row by
broadcasting a pre-election spot for the extremist Národní strana, or
National Party. The clip provided a platform for the far-right group to
express its hatred of the country’s large Roma minority. This included
the shocking promise of “a final solution to the gypsy problem.” In the
uproar that followed the broadcaster eventually gave way and said it will
not screen the spot again, though its judgement has been called into
question.
More
Two awarded for courage in standing up to neo-Nazis
On Tuesday, the Czech Charter 77 Foundation awarded two young Czechs, Jakub
Štěrbík and Stanislav Vodička, this year’s František Kriegel Award
for outstanding personal courage. A year ago the two stood up to skinheads
shouting hate slogans and giving the Hitler salute. For his efforts, Mr
Štěrbík was stabbed in the neck; his friend Stanislav Vodička came to
his aid and was also knifed.
More
Czech government unveils strategy to combat rise in far-right extremism
In one of its final acts before leaving office, the Czech government has
just approved a new strategy to deal with a rise in far-right extremism.
The release of the plan follows a period in which neo-Nazis, said to be
increasingly organised, have attacked members of the Roma minority and
clashed with the police. But what actual measures will be taken to deal
with the far-right?
More
Hundreds of Romanies protest against extremism at nation-wide rallies
Around 2,500 Romanies took to the streets in 13 towns and cities around the
Czech Republic on Sunday to protest against the growing threat of racism
and extremism. In their first-ever nationwide protest, members of the
country’s largest minority accused the government of not doing enough to
protect them.
More
+1
+10
