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My Europe: "Evil is not omnipotent"

2023-08-02 12:18:00, Blog CNA

Ruins of the barracks of the so-called "Gypsy Camp" in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp

In 1944, on August 2, the Nazis killed in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp in the gas chamber in building 13, 4,300 innocent Sinti and Roma people and the last in the infamous ward, which was called the "gypsy camp". Days like this of August 2 is symbolic of the Nazi Holocaust, where more than 500,000 Sinti and Roma in occupied Europe were denied the right to live.

8 years ago, in 2015, the European Parliament declared August 2 the European Sinti and Roma Holocaust Remembrance Day. And all EU member states continue to be called upon to declare August 2 as Holocaust commemoration day against the Sinti and Roma in their countries.

Poland was the first country in Europe to recognize August 2 as a day of remembrance. For Roma and Sinti all over the world and especially in Europe, this is a day of special importance.

The commemoration of the victims of the Nazi genocide has become a permanent part of our identity and an inseparable part of the unfortunate and painful history of Roma and Sinti. In the Roma worldview, the Holocaust is not only interpreted as a tragedy of the Roma, who experienced inhuman crimes it is more than that, it is unique and incomparable to other barbaric and inhuman forms that have appeared throughout the history of mankind.

In Nazi times 'technique' replaced 'ethics'. And instrumental reason completely separated man from emotions, sensations, passions and moral principles. While he deprived the modern man of that time of his essence. He was only interested in increasing efficiency in his "technical" work - without being tainted by any moral responsibility. The Holocaust did not happen only because of sadistic people, but because of the indifference and total detachment from the moral responsibilities of people in that "era". A dehumanization of the bureaucratic apparatus made it possible to kill such a large number of people. in such a short period of time.With great consequences for humanity and civilization.

Discrimination, prejudice and unequal opportunities for Roma and Sinti in Europe

79 years after the end of the Second World War, the life of Roma and Sinti almost everywhere in Europe continues to face discrimination and prejudice against this community in every sphere of life, where they live scattered in almost all European countries. The country with the largest Roma population in Europe is Romania with about 2 million Roma. Hungary. Germany, Spain, France, and Bulgaria also have hundreds of thousands of Roma.

Especially during the time of the Covid 19 pandemic and after it, it took an extraordinary effort for the survival of the poor Roma, which reached the proportions of a real challenge. In those days, it became clear that this Roma population is the last to be supported, the last to be heard and the first to be photographed, when they are helped.

On days like August 2, it is often pointed out that, unfortunately, Roma and Sinti only enjoy public interest on days like these. This day is often just a convention, the result of a public agreement. Not that it is wrong, but for clarification, this day has not yet acquired the intended significance for the Roma. However, it has value for the existence of this minority, which on other days of the year is less present, although it should be noted, that has been living for more than seven centuries in Europe.

Humanity as a subject and we Roma as victims must learn from the Holocaust. Our moral duty as human beings must rest on our primordial source in the fundamental responsibility of man to man.

"Evil is not omnipotent. It can be resisted", says author Zygmunt Baumann.

Fatlum Kryeziu, sociologist and journalist from Prizren/ DW