Mass Deportations of Romas/Gypsies Criticized

According to the Associated Press:

A U.N. panel is demanding that France stop rounding up Gypsies to force them back to Romania, saying the practice violates human rights.

The recommendation comes a day after the archbishop of Paris called France’s crackdown a “circus” as the country expelled nearly 300 minority Roma.

The U.N. anti-racism panel said Friday that France should avoid “collective repatriation” of Gypsies while findings solutions that respect human rights.

It expressed concern that Gypsies in France weren’t receiving full voting, education and housing rights.

President Nicolas Sarkozy’s government links the Roma to crime such as prostitution and child exploitation. Critics say the policy amounts to racism against one of the European Union’s most impoverished minorities.

Seehere as well.

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