Fundación Secretariado Gitano

We protest to the Provincial Prosecutor of Hate Crimes regarding the situation of antigypsyism suffered by some of the Roma families living in Peal de Becerro [editar]

• Equal treatment
• International
• National level

Following the attacks on some Roma families in Peal de Becerro (Jaén) on 17 and 18 July, following the violent death of a young person from the local area, the FSG, as coordinating entity for the Council for the Elimination of Racial or Ethnic Discrimination’s Service of Assistance to Victims of Discrimination, has filed a claim with the Provincial Prosecutor of Hate Crimes.

Following the stabbing and death of the youth on 18 July, community members from Peal de Becerro held a demonstration to express their outrage at the stabbing, in which they demanded that the families of the alleged perpetrator or perpetrators should be expelled from the town.

After the demonstration, some of the protesters went to the houses of the Roma families and painted messages on the fronts of the houses: “murderers”, “out of our town”, “gypsies out”. They also burned some of the houses, entered them, destroyed property and overturned some vehicles.

In the claim filed with the specialised Prosecutor, an investigation has been requested into the events described above, which appear to constitute various forms of hate crime. These include threatening a certain group of the population, harassment and stigmatisation of the Roma community, hate speech, and destruction and damage by fire of various houses and other property, with the aggravating factor of antigypsyism, which was recently included in the Penal Code.

Following these events, the Roma families affected have had to leave the town and many of them are unwilling to return for fear of reprisals. The majority of the families still do not have alternative accommodation, nor have they seen a response from the local or regional authorities.

Last week, we also submitted a letter to the Provincial Government’s office asking for measures to protect these families and their rights. In addition, we approached the local mayor to report the messages of anti-Roma hate painted on the walls of the houses, and asked for them to be removed.

Through these actions, and in collaboration with other organisations, particularly the Roma associations movement, we add our voice to the protest at these events. We express our desire to support and protect the Roma families who have been expelled from their houses, seen their property threatened and seen their rights violated.