Demand for a memorial to Roma and Sinti murdered by the Nazi regime – for example in the courtyard of the former AKH – is getting louder. Representatives of the ethnic groups have already deposited their wish in the National Council, reported the “Padrão”. Furthermore, MEPs Lukas Mandl (ÖVP) and Andreas Schieder (SPÖ) call for August 2 to be declared a memorial day in Austria for the Roma and Sinti murdered during the Nazi era.
The reason for the demands is the World Day of the Roma on 8 April, that is, today. Up to 5,000 Roma and Sinti were murdered in Austria during the Nazi dictatorship. Now, at an event in Parliament, a catalog of demands was delivered by representatives of the ethnic groups. A central memorial in the federal capital is important to those involved. Green Eva Blimlinger favors the inner courtyard of the Old General Hospital. Also under discussion are the Human Rights Square, Ceija-Stojka-Platz in Vienna-Neubau and Dr.-Karl-Lueger-Platz.
Zadic refers to training events
The SPÖ and the ÖVP have also teamed up – at least on a European level – for a similar demand. MEPs Schieder and Mandl “recommend” in a joint broadcast that “also in Austria, August 2 be declared a day of memory for Roma and Sinti murdered under National Socialism, as has already been done at European level and in many countries “. Background: About 3,000 Roma and Sinti were killed on August 2, 1944 in the Auschwitz death camp.
Justice Minister Alma Zadic (Greens) referred to a two-day training event for court officials on the occasion of World Roma Day. The focus is on the plight of the ethnic group in Austria and the critical reassessment of anti-Zyganism as a “social phenomenon” that has led to the exclusion and discrimination of Roma.