The International Roma Union - IRU is deeply disappointed and at the same time reacts most openly regarding the tragic event that took place on Saturday, June 19, 2021 in Teplice - Czech Republic. The IRU is reacting to the fact that there are attempts to minimize this case, and to have a different direction. In regards to that is the statement of the Czech Minister of Interior Mr. Jan Hamaćek who openly supports the police officers who having in mind the indications, may be directly responsible for the death of the young Roma man. What is even more devastating is the fact that they deny any responsibility and say that the cause of death was drug use by the late Roma man. Such passive attitude of the police towards this case is obvious, and that is why the IRU calls upon the Czech Ministry of Interior, the Czech state institutions, as well as the European Institutions to make this case a priority in the investigation and to have a thorough investigation that will be public and transparent.  And at the same time, the IRU will make every effort to ensure that these case and the like will not be repeated ever in the future, and to put an end to such proceedings, no matter where they occur.

The International Romani Union – IRU will mobilize its membership and partner organization and monitor the situation, and in any way, will defend the interests of the Roma community in front of every institution. This means to combat any form of brutality against Roma and their discrimination. Regards, Zoran Dimov President of the  International Romani Union – IRU

Skopje – N. Macedonia 06.23.2021

In his letter and request by the International Roma Union through its delegates and signed by the President of the IRU Zoran Dimov, among other things, the text reads:

“International Romani Union - IRU is concerned about the Roma in Afghanistan, who are living in these difficult times without protection and in great fear. Roma should not fall victim to the new government in Afghanistan. The IRU calls on the UN, the US government and the EU to provide urgent humanitarian protection to the Roma population in Afghanistan.

Now all countries are taking care of their citizens and urgently evacuating them from Afghanistan in August. The IRU demands that people be released from Afghanistan even after August. The Roma do not have the state or the necessary resources to evacuate the Roma living in Afghanistan.

The Roma in Afghanistan are suffering and fearing consequences for them. They are often stateless and are not recognized by the Afghan constitution. International Romani Union - IRU therefore calls on the UN, the US and the EU to review the status of Roma in Afghanistan, who are the subject to recent political developments, to protect them and to assist in their evacuation if necessary.

The UN should protect the Roma without their own state. In war situations, many Roma have been killed - about 1.5 million in the Holocaust during World War II - and they have often lost all their property without war reparations and other compensation and left without protection. According to international estimates, the Panjshir Valley north of Kabul could become a crisis hotbed that could even lead to a civil war in Afghanistan.

Unicef coordinates the distribution of Corona vaccines in the WHO’s Covax vaccine program, and Unicef has told Reuters that the number of Corona vaccinations has fallen by 80% in Afghanistan since the conquest of Kabul. Half of the vaccine doses delivered to Afghanistan are now in danger of falling due. Afghanistan is also in danger of becoming a crisis hotbed of Corona and stateless Roma will be left without vaccines. Roma also need health protection in Afghanistan.” it is said in the letter sent by the IRU and on behalf of the President of the IRU Zoran Dimov

In 4th of June 2021 Yusuke SUMI who studied under prof. Gheorghe Sarau in Romania gave a lecture on the Romany language and Culture at Kanda University of International Studies, Japan.

His speech was entitled „The Romany Language – The Wanderers’ traces”. The presentation was held online because of the state of emergency and around 80 students and professors invited by the Multilingual Communication Center attended.

He taught basic things about the history of Roma showing the short video made at the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of the IRU. After that, he talked about the culture and the language of the Roma.

Here are some comments from the attendants gathered after the speech. As you can see, we realize that Japanese students don’t really know about the Roma:

“I thought that the Roma live all together in a country. It was surprising that they don’t have a common religion or customs.”

“It is impressive that they have the official name, flag and anthem, but they live in different countries.”

“It was the first time to hear about the Romany language. I didn’t know that the Roma people had been killed the most after the Jews in WWII.”

“I heard ‘Gypsies’ but ‘Roma’ never. Hearing ‘Roma’ for the first time, I thought that they are people living near Rome in Italy.”

“I really liked the speech of the President of the IRU in the movie ‘the IRU is one family’.”

However, it was a good occasion for young Japanese people to take an interest in the history and the culture of the Roma.

The Multilingual Communication Center of Kanda University of International Studies is now planning to organize the Romany language course, inviting Yusuke SUMI as a lecturer in the future.

The International Romani Union – IRU following the death of the young Roma Stanislav Toma from Teplice – Czech Republic which happened on the 19th of June reacted with a protest letter to the Ambassador of the Czech Republic in North Macedonia – H.E. Miroslav Toman, from the President of the IRU Zoran Dimov. The IRU reacts that this case must be minimized and receive a different direction. The IRU reacts to the passive work of the police towards this case and that is why the IRU calls upon the Czech MIA, the Czech State Institutions, and also the European Institutions must prioritize these case and to solve it and have a thorough investigation which will be public and transparent – says the reaction from the President of the IRU sent to the Embassy of the Czech Republic in the Republic of North Macedonia