Hindus urge Israel to build Gypsy memorial

12 September, 2012

Backing Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin's reported demand for commemorating Roma (Gypsy) genocide, Hindus have urged Israel to build a memorial to Roma victims.

HINDU LEADER Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that Israel recognizing the sufferings, persecution and tragedy of fellow Roma victims would be a “step in the right direction”.

According to an estimate, about 1.5 million Roma were murdered, besides suffering from starvation and torture, and many people are not even aware about it. Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged Germany also to urgently complete Berlin memorial to Roma and Sinti, which was reportedly approved in 1992. Full-scale work was needed to start on this memorial immediately as it was reportedly neglected and waiting in limbo.

Zed pointed out that Roma were facing apartheid conditions in Europe. It was simply immoral to continue staying apathetic and silent spectator ignoring European Roma plight, who reportedly regularly faced social exclusion, racism, substandard education, hostility, joblessness, rampant illness, inadequate housing, lower life expectancy, unrest, living on desperate margins, stereotypes, mistrust, rights violations, discrimination, marginalization, appalling living conditions, prejudice, human rights abuse, etc.

Zed stressed that it was moral obligation of Europe to take care of its largest minority Roma population and stop human rights violations suffered by them, who numbered around 15-million and were the most disadvantaged. There seemed to be no coherent and effective policy to assimilate them into the society. Their alarming condition was a social blight for Europe and the rest of the world, Zed added.