NEW SERIES of smash hit documentary “My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding” on UK’s Channel 4 actually harms the already mal-treated European Gypsy (Roma) community, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed has alleged.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, and who frequently takes up European Roma causes, argues that instead of tackling more serious issues facing Roma community, it appears to be mocking them. It does not seem to be an accurate portrayal of Roma and instead it appears to be simply sensationalism, exaggeration and misrepresentation.

Zed pointed out that television was a powerful medium and it could have been used in a more positive and educative way voicing European Roma apartheid.

He stated that apartheid conditions faced by Roma people were a social blight for Europe and the rest of the world as they reportedly regularly faced social exclusion, racism, substandard education, hostility, joblessness, rampant illness, inadequate housing, lower life expectancy, unrest, living on desperate margins, language barriers, stereotypes, mistrust, rights violations, discrimination, marginalization, appalling living conditions, prejudice, human rights abuse, racist slogans on Internet, etc.

Zed noted that it was shocking to see how inhumanely Europe had been treating its about 15-million Roma brothers-sisters for such a long period.

Public service broadcaster Channel 4 calls this highly rated show “a window into the secretive, extravagant and surprising world of gypsies”. In USA, the show airs on specialty cable channel TLC.