The Society for Threatened Peoples held a vigil in front of the French embassy on Monday to protest the scandalous deportation practices of the French government with regard to Romani people from Romania and Bulgaria. "Stop Sarkozy! Legalization, not deportation, for Romanis in France!" read the banner brought by the humans rights organization. On the occasion of an international meeting of representatives from many governments, including Germany, Great Britain, the USA, Canada, and the European Union, to discuss political asylum and illegal immigration, Paris-based associations of Roma from Romania called for protests throughout Europe.

"With the planned evacuation of Roma settlements and the collective deportation of Romanis, Nicolas Sarkozy is sullying the achievements of his predecessor in office, Jacques Chirac," criticized Tilman Zülch, President of the Society for Threatened Peoples - International (GfbV-International). In 1995, Chirac officially recognized France's share of blame for the deportation and extermination of thousands of Jews living in France in 1942, and spoke of "collective" and "indelible guilt". "We bear in mind that Sinti and Roma were victims of the Holocaust, too, and call on Sarkozy to act as befits a statesman and ensure the welfare of the members of this ethnic group, both in his own land and in the other EU countries," urged Zülch. On behalf of GfbV International, Zülch delivered the appeal to Sarkozy at the French embassy during the protest.

In late July, 2010, Sarkozy announced that half of the roughly 600 illegal Roma camps in France would be evacuated within the following 3 months. The settlements were said to be potential breeding grounds for human trafficking and prostitution. "To offer this as a justification for the actions of officials against the Roma is to issue a blanket condemnation of an entire ethnic group", said Zülch. "Sarkozy would be better advised to take the initiative, in particular in matters relating to Sinti and Roma, to work toward responsible pan-European human rights and minority policies." Since the beginning of 2010, up to 9000 of the approximately 15,000 foreign Romanis have been deported from France or have "voluntarily" returned to their countries.

Tilman Zülch can be reached by phone during the human rights actions at +49 (0)151/ 1530-9888.

Translated by Elizabeth Crawford