Racist Pamphlets Disseminated in Czech Republic

29 October 2003

Racist pamphlets have recently been distributed in the city of Opava in eastern Czech Republic, according to a report by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) of April 18, 2003. According to RFE/RL, the pamphlets called for a "White Opava" and requested action against "Romani parasites". According to the report, police stated that the distributors of the pamphlets would face between six months and three years imprisonment for "supporting a movement aimed at suppressing the rights and freedoms of citizens" if caught.

Anti-Romani sentiment remains extemely high in the Czech Republic. In its April 22-27, 2003 edition, the Czech weekly newspaper Respekt reported that according to a survey of the Prague-based Center for the Study of Public Opinion, 79 percent of respondents would not want Roma as neighbours.

(Respekt, RFE/RL)