Study warns of possible new attacks against Roma as neo-Nazi movement gains
traction
A new study commissioned by the Interior Ministry has suggested that the
neo-Nazi movement in the Czech Republic (estimated as 4,000 strong with 400
hardcore members) is successfully pushing an agenda of hatred and racism in
troubled parts of the country. As it stands, the last decade or so saw a
number of arson attacks against ethnic Roma families including a
highly-publicised case where a toddler barely survived and was left with
lifelong disabilities. According to the latest report, unless more
comprehensive measures are taken soon, racially-motivated attacks spurred
by the neo-Nazi movement, may increase.
I spoke to political analyst Miroslav Mareš who headed the project.
“Regarding neo-Nazism, the situation is fairly stable but what we are
seeing is the rise of ‘usual’ racism: in socially-troubled areas we can
see the involvement of the regular population in anti-Roma demonstrations
and the neo-Nazis are the ‘drivers’ of anti-Roma activities and
prejudices. Of course, there are a lot of problems regarding the issue but
we can now hear racist statements from local politicians from non-extremist
parties. And some extremists have said ‘Look, they are drawing from our
traditional programme’.”
Neo-Nazis, then, are increasingly successful in pushing their agenda?
“I think that they are and now they are active in public demonstrations.
At last year’s May 1 rally in Brno they were present along with members
of the far-right Workers Party of Social Justice. That is what has been
happening.”
You have just gotten back from a conference on extremism in Brussels: is
the rise of the Right, so to speak, a pan-European problem?
“It is. You can see various kinds of extremism from country to country.
There is the extremism of established political parties or far-right
parties such as in Hungary, on the other hand you can also see rising
militancy including the rising phenomenon or danger of extremist terrorism.
Last year in Norway there was the terrible attack by Anders Breivik, there
is the National Socialist Underground in Germany, neo-Nazis in Russia or
the group Death Squad in Hungary in 2009. I think that the rising extremist
scene is a threat also in terms of political violence and terrorism.”
One of the findings in the new study is that there could be increased
attacks against the Roma in the Czech Republic in the next five years.
Obviously that is a threat needs to be taken seriously.
“This is the most important profile field regarding right-wing
extremism. Because some traditional parties now use anti-Roma rhetoric it
could be the backdrop for more militant activities by neo-Nazis. Molotov
cocktail attacks are cheap but also ‘effective’.”
What are some comprehensive steps the government should take?
“This is probably the most important conclusion of the study: to take
steps towards prevention of the dissemination of extremist ideas among
today’s youth. Repressive mechanisms already exist and work in the Czech
Republic but I would say is a bigger problem is the lack of prevention
programmes at primary and secondary schools.”
 |
 Related articles | | Date | Title | Feature |
| 01.08.2017 | Romany rapper Radek Banga to receive František Kriegel Award for civic
courage | News |
| 08.02.2016 | Far-right focus on migrants taking heat of Roma at least for now, says
Czechs Against Czechs maker Tomáš Kratochvíl | News |
| 25.11.2014 | Social Democrat leadership up in arms over local government coalition with
ultra-right party | News |
| 25.11.2014 | Political commentator Jiří Pehe: Duchcov coalition could seriously damage
the Social Democrats | News |
| 20.11.2013 | Ministry aims to employ 1,000 new officers in troubled areas | News |
| 17.11.2013 | Ring-wing extremists, opponents gather in Prague | News |
| 07.11.2013 | Intelligence service report: corruption and economic problems are fuelling
extremism | News |
| 19.10.2013 | Over 300 take part in anti-Roma demonstration in Ostrava | News |
| 12.09.2013 | Brochures for schools to help combat racial prejudice and extremism | News |
| 23.08.2013 | Extremists relying increasingly on internet to whip up anti-Roma sentiments | News |
| 31.07.2013 | Mainstream antipathy to Roma bigger threat than far right, warms Czech
intelligence | News |
| 04.07.2013 | České Budějovice braces for more violence as new anti-Roma demo called | News |
| 01.07.2013 | Anti-Roma riots in České Budějovice point to extremist trend | News |
| 07.10.2012 | Right-wing extremists demonstrate in Ústí | News |
| 27.09.2012 | Jakub Polák, doyen of the Czech anarchist scene, dies aged 60 | News |
| 24.05.2012 | Roma attack on teen, that brought thousands into the streets, never
happened | News |
| 14.02.2012 | Police crack down on women’s branch of Czech neo-Nazi movement | News |
| 11.01.2012 | Extremist lawyer claims judicial expert biased because of Jewish background | News |
| 12.09.2011 | Police intervene in attack of far-right extremists and locals against
Romany housing unit in Varnsdorf | News |
| 05.09.2011 | Extremist groups aim to benefit from social unrest in North Bohemia | News |
| 16.08.2011 | Hardbass – we will bring Heil Hitler to your home | News |
| 26.07.2011 | Roma advocacy group suspends police cooperation over neo-Nazi marches | News |
| 12.07.2011 | Roma group blasts Interior for anti-extremism efforts | News |
| 01.05.2011 | Thirteen far-right extremists arrested at gathering in Brno | News |
| 29.04.2011 | Brno braces itself for Sunday’s neo-Nazi march | News |
| 28.04.2011 | Neo-Nazis in the City: Time for strong affirmative actions in Czech Republic! | News |
| 05.04.2011 | Uproar over appointment of ultra conservative as ministerial adviser | News |
| 02.11.2010 | Intel shows decline in activity of far-right extremists | News |
| 21.10.2010 | Czech president surprised by long terms for neo-Nazis convicted over
petrol-bomb attack on Romany home | News |
| 20.10.2010 | Court hands tough sentences to Romany family’s attackers | News |
| 06.10.2010 | State attorney demands exemplary sentences for neo-Nazis in arson-attack case | News |
| 04.10.2010 | Roman Joch and the redefining of human rights | News |
| 29.06.2010 | Suspected arsonist caught on tape praising ‘dudes’ who shot Hungarian Roma | News |
| 07.05.2010 | Czech intelligence registers decrease in right-wing extremism | News |
| 25.04.2010 | Plzeň police prosecute three men who publicly shouted Neo-Nazi slogans | News |
| 24.04.2010 | Plzeň mayor breaks up far-right march | News |
| 06.04.2010 | Police investigate latest attack against Romanies | News |
| 11.01.2010 | Court hears government’s case to ban far-right Workers’ Party | News |
| 05.12.2009 | Police arrest man over racist publication | News |
| 05.11.2009 | Mf Dnes: Neo-Nazi group planned terrorist attacks | News |
| 22.10.2009 | Police arrest 30 suspected of ties to extremism, neo-Nazi movement | News |
| 21.10.2009 | Police raid right-wing extremists in at least three cities | News |
| 19.10.2009 | Women against Racism protest Saturday 24 October in Prague | News |
| 17.08.2009 | Czech police may arrest extremist leaders over Vítkov firebomb attack, says representative of affected family | News |
| 15.08.2009 | Four charged with attempted murder over attack on Roma family | News |
| 15.08.2009 | Pecina: police investigating links between firebomb attack and far-right Workers’ Party | News |
| 14.08.2009 | Four neo-Nazis charged with racially motivated attempted murder over petrol bomb attack on Romany family’s home | News |
| 14.08.2009 | Four people charged with attempted murder in arson attack | News |
| 13.08.2009 | Twelve arrested over attack on Romany family’s home | News |
| 08.08.2009 | Romany groups from central Europe form umbrella organization | News |
| 29.07.2009 | “Risk” areas to get more police patrols following rise in extremism | News |
| 25.06.2009 | Monitoring group issues stark warning on growing neo-Nazi threat | News |
| 23.06.2009 | Jekhetane Roma (UK) calls on Czech PM Fischer to address the situation of
Roma in the Czech Republic | News |
| 15.06.2009 | Police clamp down on neo-Nazi protesters around the country | News |
| 15.06.2009 | Police detain over a dozen far-right radicals in Most and Zlín | News |
| 10.06.2009 | Several charged after police mount biggest operation against Czech neo-Nazis | News |
| 09.06.2009 | Police arrest far-right extremists after raids in Brno district | News |
| 02.06.2009 | Czech media getting bad press over extremism | News |
| 20.05.2009 | Two awarded for courage in standing up to neo-Nazis | News |
| 05.05.2009 | Czech government unveils strategy to combat rise in far-right extremism | News |
| 23.04.2009 | Romanies call for nation-wide rallies to condemn racist attacks on their community | News |
| 20.04.2009 | Police hunt for attackers as two-year-old Roma girl severely burned in
alleged arson | News |
| 25.11.2008 | Leader of Workers’ Party promises reformation under new name as government requests banning | News |
| 24.11.2008 | Romanies warn of mass emigration if government does not deal with far-right violence | News |
| 20.11.2008 | Analysts warn of “ethnic war” as local people cheer neo-Nazis in Litvínov | News |
| 18.11.2008 | Neo-Nazis clash with police in Litvínov | News |
| 16.05.2008 | Czech police examining “Neo-Nazi bible” The Turner Diaries | News |
| 12.11.2007 | Neo-Nazis fail to march through Prague’s Jewish Quarter | News |
| 06.11.2007 | Observer says hundreds of neo-Nazis could answer call to march | News |
| 06.11.2007 | Far-right group forms 'National Guards' | News |
| 25.10.2007 | Resistance growing to planned neo-Nazi march through Jewish Quarter | News |
| 15.10.2007 | Report calls for Czech authorities to take proactive approach against right-wing extremists | News |
|
|
Also in section "News"
Most popular articles