March 29, 2024 20:58 (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
PM Modi to kickstart BJP's Lok Sabha poll campaign from Meerut | Kangana Ranaut in Mandi: 'Don't think I am a heroine, consider me as your sister and daughter' | Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav demand high-level probe into Mukhtar Ansari's death | PM Modi has mastered art of manipulating democracy, hurting Constitution: Mallikarjun Kharge | Mafia-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari dies of cardiac arrest at 63

Sweden should compensate Roma: Zed

India Blooms News Service (IBNS) | | 11 Apr 2014, 09:59 am
Nevada, Apr 11 (IBNS) Sweden should formally apologize for abuses incurred on its Roma populace over 100 years and compensate them adequately, distinguished religious statesman Rajan Zed stated in Nevada (USA) on Friday.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed that “White Paper on abuses and rights violations of Roma”, published by the Swedish Government on March 25, clearly admitted mapping of Roma and assigning them codes, singling out Roma for sterilization identifying them "as an undesirable group in society and a burden", taking custody of their children, entry ban on them on the notion that "Roma did not fit into society", not registering Roma in the census, placing Roma children in remedial classes or special needs classes and obstructing the opportunities for Roma to support themselves and then blaming Roma for their own situation.

All this had made life for Roma populace in Sweden very difficult. Although apology and compensation would not bring the years back they suffered under apartheid like conditions in Sweden, these would at least be a step in the right direction and towards healing, Zed argued.

Zed, however, thanked the Swedish Government and its Integration Minister Erik Ullenhag for drawing up this White Paper “highlighting the abuses the Roma have suffered” and “showing how stereotypes and prejudices have developed and been passed down from generation to generation, and how this has formed the basis of government policy”.

He also urged the national church, Church of Sweden, and its Archbishop of Uppsala Most Reverend Anders Harald Wejryd, to push for national apology and compensation for Roma sufferings as religion told us to help the helpless.

Zed asked other countries of Europe to also publish similar white papers, honestly admitting how Roma had suffered apartheid like conditions over the years in their respective areas.

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Related Images
PM Modi in Bhutan 22 Mar 2024, 06:53 pm
PM Modi in Tamil Nadu 28 Feb 2024, 07:07 pm