BIS: Far-right extremist scene stagnates (Czech Republic)

 The activities of right-wing extremists have been stagnating in the Czech Republic lately, the civilian counter- intelligence service (BIS) says in its report for the third quarter of 2010 released on its website these days.

BIS says extremists have become passive and they practically do not stage their concerts any longer as they have partially lost their platform and feared repressions.

Internal debates about the ultra-right community's further heading are underway, BIS adds.

"If they decided to organise a meeting, it was usually a private celebration with recorded music," BIS says, describing the activities of Czech racists and neo-Nazis.

The only larger event they organised was a traditional march in support of the imprisoned skinhead Vlastimil Pechanec, held in Svitavy, east Bohemia, on July 24, 2010 with some 200 people attending, the report says.

Czech neo-Nazism followers prefer attending big concerts in Poland and Hungary where these events do not draw so high attention of the police and media as in the Czech Republic.

BIS notes that rightist extremists have communicated mainly on the Internet. Profiles of several new local extremist groupings have appeared on web social networks but these groups have been working rather virtually so far.

Polemics about the future course continue on the ultra-right scene, BIS report says.

"The conservative core and younger activists who promote new trends and ways of promotion have clashed in this dispute," the BIS report says.

The steps by the extremist Workers' Party of Social Justice (DSSS), successor to the banned Workers' Party (DS), have significantly influenced the developments of the extremist scene.

The DSSS tried to present itself as an ultra-right but not extremist political party and this is why it was intentionally getting rid of neo-Nazis.

In connection with the recent local and Senate elections, the DSS organised rallies at many places in the Czech Republic but they attracted a negligible number of citizens, BIS says.

The party led an intensive campaign mainly in the municipalities that face problems of cohabitation with ethnic minorities where it expected to score success in the elections to local assemblies, BIS writes.

However, the DSSS still suffers from internal disputes, it adds.

According to BIS, the Czech leftist extremist scene has not significantly changed in the past three months, its supporters keep protesting against capitalism and criticising the centre-right government's austerity measures to revitalise public finance.

Prague Monitor

O SOLUTION IN SIGHT FOR ROMA SETTLEMENT (Slovakia)

The Roma settlement in the western Slovak village of Plavecký Štvrtok has been living under threat of demolition for several months now. But despite the obvious interest of politicians in the matter, a solution for the problems associated with the community remains elusive. The number of illegal houses in the village has mushroomed over the years. Today, Plavecký Štvrtok is the biggest Roma settlement in western Slovakia, home to some 600 people residing in about 90 houses, all of them built without construction permits on land belonging to the Slovak Land Fund (SPF), the mayor of the village, Ivan Slezák, told The Slovak Spectator. In addition, 18 of the houses have been built directly above an underground gas pipeline – a restricted area where, in theory, no buildings at all are permitted. The government’s plenipotentiary for Roma communities, Miroslav Pollák, recently became involved in the matter and held a meeting with Mayor Slezák on October 26. “Several steps must be part of the solution, because the problem is complex and it cannot be solved through only one aspect,” Pollák said following the meeting. “We have agreed to cooperate together in the future, also with other players such as the gas utility and other offices.” However, the declared intention to cooperate is so far the only achievement of the two actors, who are working together for the first time to solve the issue.

Pollák has been in office since the government changed three months ago, while Slezák has been mayor of Plavecký Štvrtok for two years and is standing for re-election on November 27. He faces a single challenger. Since he took office, Slezák has pursued the solution that he and his municipal council chose: demolition of the illegally built houses using a procedure authorised by Slovakia’s Construction Act, starting with the 18 houses in the restricted area above the gas pipeline. “Speaking frankly, we realise that in the long run it is impossible to defend them [the houses] and to keep them there illegally,” Pollák said. “But the subsequent steps are of more concern to us, because it is one thing to remove a house and another thing what happens to the [former residents] the next day.” Pollák noted that the Construction Act cannot be given priority over other laws such as the child protection law. He said that the Interior Ministry had confirmed that demolition would not be possible in the near future, and that the 18 houses in the restricted area would not be removed for at least the next six months, so that the present residents are not left outside in the cold during winter.

The situation in Plavecký Štvrtok has risen to political prominence before, particularly in the run up to the general election in June this year. The settlement made news again recently, when Interior Minister Daniel Lipšic visited on October 19 to look into the problems of the Roma community there. He said that as of December 2010 the local police department would be given a new priority: to focus on reducing criminality in the settlement. He also promised to help the mayor demolish the illegal houses. “It’s not acceptable in the long run for anyone in Slovakia to be able to violate laws continuously and to build houses in protected gas-pipeline areas as well other reservations,” Lipšic said, as quoted by the SITA newswire. However, Pollák, the government’s proxy, says that demolition cannot occur before substitute housing is secured for the families. Mayor Slezák, on the other hand, maintains that there are no lots in the cadastre of Plavecký Štvrtok that could be used for such purposes, adding that the village also lacks the financial resources to build low-cost houses, even if they are funded by government programmes.

“The truth is that a lot of resources need to be put together by the village, such as for the infrastructure,” Slezák said. “And then it is a burden for the village to run such houses. The maintenance of those houses, and getting them [i.e. Roma residents] to pay the rent, could be problematic. We have a problem today to get the citizens who live in the settlement to pay for water. I cannot understand why they cannot pay for the main commodity they need for life if they obviously have satellite dishes, cars and so on. The village sees it as an immense burden that it cannot bear.” Pollák reiterated that this was only the first of many meetings to come and added that he believes all those involved will reach a solution that will suit everyone.

Slovak Spectator

Police investigate racist incident in which an elderly dog walker abused pair at farm (UK)

An elderly man attacked a mother and daughter with a walking stick in a racist attack outside their home.

Police today released an image of a suspect they wish to speak to in connection with the incident.

The 39-year-old mother and her 15-year-old daughter were at their farm near Queensbury when they heard a man shouting threats and racial abuse outside.

The girl opened the door and was confronted by a bespectacled man with a walking stick, who continued to hurl abuse.

Her mother went outside and told the man she was going to call the police. She went back inside but the man continued to shout at the teenager.

He then grabbed her by the wrist and started to hit her with the walking stick.

The girl’s mother intervened, but the man hit her in the chest with the stick.

She shouted to a neighbour for help and the man fled down a nearby country track. The mother and daughter followed him to a field but he continued to be abusive and aggressive and wave his stick in the air. He fled from the scene as police arrived.

The victims suffered minor injuries and were badly shocked by the incident.

Police have released an e-fit of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the incident in New House Lane, at about 7pm on Sunday, October 17.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “This was an unusual and disturbing incident and, at this stage, we believe it to have been racially motivated.

“Though the victims were not seriously injured, it was a very shocking and upsetting experience for them.

“The man we wish to speak to in connection with the incident is very distinctive and someone must know who he is. We urge anyone who has information about this man to come forward.”

The suspect is described as white, about 60 years old and was wearing glasses. He is also believed to own a white Border collie.

Any witnesses, or anyone with any information, is asked to contact PC Emily Dean on 0845 6060606, or Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555111. 

The Telegraph and Argus

Racist abuse at St Johnstone-Celtic game to be investigated (Scotland, UK)

St Johnstone officials have pledged to launch a "thorough" probe after Perth fans were accused of chanting racist abuse during an SPL clash.

Celtic midfielder Ki Sung-Yeung was allegedly the target of repeated taunts during Saturday's match at McDiarmid Park.

A small minority of fans were heard to bark at the South Korean star.

Some mindless fans also chanted "Who ate all the dogs?" at the 21-year-old during the clash.

At one stage the player, known as Ki, went to take a corner to be met by a group of fans "woofing" at him.

The song "Who ate all the dogs?" was also heard during the televised lunchtime encounter.

It is understood that the tasteless taunts refer to the reported use of dogs in Korean cuisine.

On various fans forums there was a furious backlash from fellow St Johnstone followers, many of whom described themselves as disgusted.

"Racism, sectarianism and bigotry should have no place in the modern game," one said.

"Would we laugh it off if monkey noises were made at Dubes (St Johnstone's black defender Michael Duberry) or would we be complaining about that?

"I don't think anyone would laugh it off."

He added, "In my opinion the same applies to going 'woof woof' to Korean players."
Fan "cannot express my disgust"

The writer described the incident as embarrassing.

He said, "Had to explain to my seven-year-old what the woofing was about...not fun."

Another fan said the yobs risked tarnishing the good reputation enjoyed by St Johnstone followers.

"The Saints fans going woof woof at the South Korean... are an embarrassment to the club," he said.

Another web user added, "Saints fans have a go at sectarianism of the Old Firm but condoning the woofing at Ki is hardly any better to be honest.

"At least condemn both and don't be a hypocrite."

One regular contributor said, "I hoped that I had perhaps imagined it on Saturday.

"It appears I didn't and cannot express my disgust enough at those who participated."

St Johnstone officials last night moved swiftly to act upon the allegations of racism.

"It has been brought to the club's attention that an extremely small minority of our support may have been responsible for making racist noises toward certain Celtic players during Saturday's game," a spokesman said.

"St Johnstone FC will conduct a thorough investigation into these allegations.

"We will consult both the police and our stewarding suppliers, G4S."

He added, "Additionally, we are appealing to fair-minded Saints fans, who make up the overwhelming majority of our support, to let us know if they are able to identify the individuals who may have been responsible."

 The Courier

A new sort of racism in Europe: ‘Muslimophobia’ by BURAK ERDEMİR*

“My allies are not Le Pen or Haider. We’ll never join up with the fascists and Mussolinis of Italy. I’m very afraid of being linked with the wrong rightist fascist groups.”

As Mr. Wilders of the Dutch Freedom Party implies, a new sort of racism is rising in Europe. This new “lite” racism is different from the racism of the good old far-right groups such as the British National Party, French National Front and Italian Northern League. The new extreme-right groups are liberals who defend women and gay rights. They are not anti-Semitic. Basically they are fighting to defend the West’s liberties from the one and only enemy: Muslims. Muslims, because they are believed to destroy European values. There is definitely an economic backdrop explaining the rise of this racism. But I would like to elaborate on why it qualifies as racism.

The concept of new racism is different from the classic definition of racism based on biological differences. There has been a shift from more traditional markers of race to newer markers of cultures that are recognized as different, incompatible and inassimilable such as customs, values, ethics, upbringing and lifestyle.

Racism, after all, is a social construction based on the subjective perceptions of the dominant group that may emerge without an objective reality of a different race. That is why, regardless of their private contemplation, people are crudely classified as Hindus or Muslims in India, and Protestants or Catholics in Ireland. Hence, a Muslim in Europe who is not practicing the religion still might be targeted as a Muslim because of that person’s alleged connection to the community. This leads to the issue of the “racialization” of religion.

New racism assumes that religion is not just a private matter but is rather about belonging by birth to a community. Modern anti-Semitism is an obvious example of cultural racism. “Jewishness” does not represent a biological category as race, yet through the course of history Jews have been racialized. In the modern era, Jews were excluded and discriminated against not on the grounds of religious matters, but rather because they were perceived as aliens threatening the national identity of European societies with their transnational religious identity. Another example would be the Bosnian Muslims. They were massacred by people who shared the same language and culture. The latter slaughtered innocent Muslims because of their racialized identity, which represented an ethnic “other.”

Muslims in 21st century Europe are facing a similar racialization. The concept of Muslimophobia is very similar to anti-Semitism in the sense that both stand for prejudice and discrimination against a group defined in a combination of religious and ethnic terms. Muslims came to represent an ethno-racial group as a result of being essentialized as a monolithic identity. They are in fact perceived as an “imagined community.” As the perceived incompatibility between Europeans and Muslims, particularly on values and lifestyles, dominates public discourse, the racialization of Muslims becomes reinforced.

Since the new racists are known to be liberals they harbor a subtle prejudice that is a disguised and covert version of old-fashioned prejudice. Especially in countries where multiculturalism has deep roots, crude expressions and blatant prejudice are not socially acceptable. Yet, subtle prejudice happens under cover in attitudes of everyday life. This subtle prejudice is widespread, particularly among the young, well-educated and liberal groups who perceive Muslims as a threat to the values and lifestyle of their society but do not express it explicitly. For instance, studies indicate that German media do not exhibit any open racism, but latent racism appears in myriad ways. Muslim families are frequently reported in the press in a negative context, such as an example of failed integration or a crime committed by a migrant.

This is the sociocultural background that instigates Muslimophobia, although the economic situation is definitely helping. At a time when jobs, wages and state welfare are under threat, people are looking for scapegoats. Muslim immigrants who work more for less are perfect targets.

What are the implications of this rising Muslimophobia for Turkey? First of all, around 4 million Turkish immigrants are residing in European countries, and they might be a target of this racism in one way or another. Secondly, a more skeptical European public opinion leaning to the far right will definitely not help Turkish accession to the EU. Far-right groups lead the opposition against Turkey. Last week six far-right parties met in Vienna to organize a European-wide campaign against Turkish membership. The argument that Turkey is “too big, too poor and too Muslim” is what those far-right groups love to hear, even if it proves to be wrong as time passes.

*Dr. Burak Erdenir is the deputy secretary-general for European Union Affairs.

Todays Zaman

UN investigator: Migrants suffer worst racism

Migrants in Europe, the United States and many other parts of the world are subjected to the worst forms of racial discrimination and xenophobia, a U.N. independent investigator said Monday.

Githu Muigai, a Kenyan lawyer, said many other groups are also victims including ethnic minorities attacked because of their minority status, individuals stopped and searched because of their perceived religious or ethnic background, and soccer players insulted because of their color.

He reiterated his opposition to Arizona's controversial immigration law because it compromises basic international human rights that migrants are entitled to.

Muigai, the U.N. Human Rights Council's special investigator on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance, spoke to reporters after presenting reports to the General Assembly on efforts to eliminate these practices.

"If I have found any specific group of people to be the subject of the most insidious contemporary forms of racial discrimination, those are migrants," he said. "And I think in many parts of the world today, immigrants bear the brunt of xenophobic intolerance - and this is true of the United States, and it is of Europe, and it is of many parts of the world."

Muigai said international law doesn't prevent any country from enforcing "a fair, open, transparent migration policy." And he said he appreciates the need for countries, especially in southern Europe, to deal with immigrants arriving illegally by sea from Africa and other parts of the world.

"All I have been saying in my reports is that we need to develop systems, structures, and policies in an international legal environment in which we can address the legitimate concerns of the receiving states while being able to safeguard the fundamental humanity, in my judgment, of the immigrants," he said.

Muigai said he is concerned that the Arizona law, now been challenged in a federal appeals court, "does not respond to minimum human rights standards."

The law targeting illegal immigration requires police enforcing another law to question a person about his or her immigration status, if there is "reasonable suspicion" that the person is in the United States illegally. It also makes it a state crime to be in the country illegally.

"This is the sort of statute that opens a floodgate, equips a policeman or such other law enforcement person on the beat with such immense powers as to compromise, in my view, the very, very fundamental human rights that ought to be enjoyed in such an enlightened part of the world as Arizona," Muigai said.

He urged all countries to ensure that migration policies are "at all times consistent with international human rights instruments."

"Migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers, regardless of their migration status, are entitled to have all their human rights protected by the state where they live without discrimination," Muigai said.

On the issue of inciting racial or religious hatred, he said criticizing religious doctrines and teachings is a legitimate exercise of freedom of expression and freedom of religion. But he expressed concern at violence and discrimination against individuals based on their religious beliefs, attacks on religious sites, and religious and ethnic profiling.

Muigai also stressed that no state is immune from extremist political parties, movements and groups with "a thinly veiled racist agenda, a xenophobic agenda."

He said some European parties "that have as their fundamental platform the exclusion of foreigners and the propagation of an ideology that is essentially racist" are extremist.

But he said he would hesitate to include the U.S. tea party movement, a coalition of groups which he said are trying to debate how government is organized and managed, with immigration policy just one issue.


Washington Post