Hindus & Jews concerned at Pope’s silence on Roma deportations in Europe

NEVADA - Hindus and Jews feel that silence of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on recent reported expelling of Roma people by various European countries is simply “out-of-line”.

According to reports, French President Nicolas Sarkozy recently announced dismantling of 300 Roma and travelers camps and expelling them; Germany deporting German-born Roma children to Kosovo;

Sweden and Belgium expelled Roma blaming them for something or the other; forcible mass deportations of Roma from Denmark-this was openly a violation of human rights of Roma, Rajan Zed, Hindu statesman; and Rabbi Jonathan B. Freirich, prominent Jewish leader in Nevada and California in USA; said in a statement in Nevada today.

This apartheid and racism was happening right under Pope’s nose in Europe and Pope’s silence and apparent unwillingness to take-up this issue was shocking, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, and Rabbi Freirich argued.

They had repeatedly appealed Pope in the past to openly embrace the Roma cause but without any success.
Europe’s most persecuted and discriminated community, Roma reportedly regularly encountered 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., Rajan Zed and Rabbi Freirich pointed out. (ANI)