AI accuses EU of forcibly deporting Romas to Kosovo
Amnesty International has accused the EU countries of forcibly deporting Roma and other minorities, including children to Kosovo.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Friday, October 01, 2010
Amnesty said that the most of the time Roma, also known as Gypsies, were returned even without their belongings, forcing them to suffer discrimination and violence in Kosovo.
The human rights group's allegations came amid international criticism of a French decision to deport hundreds of Roma to Romania and Bulgaria in a drive to flush out illegal immigrants without proper documents.
The clampdown began in August despite an EU law on the free movement of people between the countries of the bloc. Romania and Bulgaria are part of the EU bloc, while Kosovo is not.
"EU countries risk violating international law by sending back people to places where they are at risk of persecution, or other serious harm," said Sian Jones, Amnesty's Kosovo expert.
He added that the 27-nation bloc should instead continue to provide international protection for Roma and other minorities in Kosovo until they could return there safely.
He also called on the Kosovo authorities to ensure that Roma and other minorities could return voluntarily and reintegrate fully in society.
