Anti-Romani sentiment, also known as antigypsyism, antiziganism, or Romaphobia, refers to prejudice, discrimination, and hostility directed specifically at Romani people. This includes unfair treatment, racism, and fear of outsiders.
The Romani people are believed to have moved from India to Europe during the Middle Ages. For many years, they faced discrimination and mistreatment. Because they lived a nomadic lifestyle, some people wrongly accused them of stealing, cheating, or practicing harmful activities. Many governments created laws that limited where Romani people could live and work. For centuries, Romani people were mistreated, enslaved, and even killed. These experiences have led to ongoing distrust between Romani people and others. Some Romani people hide their heritage out of fear of being judged or stereotyped. Others avoid non-Romani people, believing they are not trustworthy.
The term “gypsy,” once used to describe Romani people, was officially rejected by the first World Romani Congress in 1971. The word came from a mistaken belief that Romani people were from Egypt. While some Romani people use the term today, it is often discouraged because it is linked to false ideas that portray Romani people as criminals or wanderers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, hate speech against Romani people in Europe increased. A 2024 report by the United States Department of State highlighted concerns about anti-Romani prejudice in Europe. Today, Romani people face challenges such as limited access to good education, difficulty finding jobs, poor healthcare, and poor living conditions. In some places, Romani children are placed in separate schools with limited learning opportunities. Romani children and women are also at higher risk of being targeted by human traffickers.
Romani people are often unfairly described as dishonest, violent, or involved in criminal activities. They are also stereotyped as magical or connected to the devil, despite having rich cultural traditions. These harmful beliefs have existed since Romani people arrived in Europe and have contributed to their exclusion from society.
The continued discrimination against Romani people is partly due to a lack of understanding about their history. This includes centuries of enslavement in parts of Europe, forced attempts to change their culture, and their suffering during the Holocaust. Historical and modern events show that European societies have often excluded Romani people, leading to lasting economic and social inequality.
Romani people are often described as a mysterious group with no permanent home. They have been wrongly accused of practicing black magic or being linked to Satan. In the past, some people, like Theodore Balsamon, warned others not to trust Romani people, calling them “magic trick performers” who used snakes to predict the future. These outdated and false ideas have contributed to the long history of prejudice against Romani people.
History
The time when the first group of Roma left South Asia is still debated by historians. One theory suggests they left to escape the effects of invasions by Mahmud of Ghazni. The Roma have faced discrimination for a long time, which may have started because of their position in the Hindu caste system. The Dom caste, which was at the bottom of this system, may have been mistreated, leading them to leave India. Genetic and historical research shows that the Roma likely came from the Dalit, or "untouchable," groups in India. These groups were often linked to jobs like musicians, dancers, and entertainers. They may have left India because of the strict caste system that kept them from social acceptance.
Ian Hancock said the Roma may have come from the Rajput warriors, a group known as "Sons of Kings" who lived in what is now Rajasthan and fought in many battles across Asia. These people were taken to Europe and forced to work in metalwork. Hancock noted that some of these people were not from the Kshatriya (warrior) caste but left India with the Rajputs, either as war captives or as warriors who defeated enemies. After these battles, the Roma traveled west along the Silk Road toward Persia and Armenia. The Dom caste is believed to have been cursed by Lord Shiva in Hindu stories after one of their members tried to steal an earring from Goddess Parvati. This led to their discrimination. The Roma call themselves "Roma chave," meaning "sons of Rama," showing their connection to Hinduism. Many Romani stories say their homeland was "Baro Than," or "the Great Land," which refers to India. Studies of their language, traditions, and physical traits support the idea that most Romani people in Europe are descendants of Hindus from India. The Roma are thought to be a mix of the Dom and the Jats. Some scholars believe conflicts during Islamic conquests in northern India may have forced the Roma's ancestors to leave. Others suggest the Roma followed the Jats, a warrior group that served in ancient Persian armies. The Roma are also believed to have come from the Dom, a low caste in India that included people who worked as beggars, thieves, musicians, and grave-diggers. Over time, they left India to avoid being treated unfairly.
The Roma are believed to have come from the northwestern part of what is now India, which included areas like Balochistan, Sindh, and Multan in present-day Pakistan. After leaving India, they traveled through Afghanistan, Persia, and the Byzantine Empire before reaching Europe. Two main migration routes are thought to have developed: one group, the Roma and Sinti, traveled overland through Byzantium and crossed into Thrace, while another group, the Dom, moved along the Middle Eastern coast and entered Egypt. Ian Hancock said the word "Roma" comes from the Hindi word "Doma." Linguists have studied the Romani language to trace their migration routes into Europe. These studies show they passed through regions like Afghanistan, Iran, Armenia, Asia Minor, and Greece. The Romani language has many words from Armenian and Greek. According to the Indian theory, the group that became the Roma left the Hindu Kush mountains, which are on the border of modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan, and traveled along the southern coast of the Caspian Sea. From there, they moved into the Persian Gulf and the Arab empires of the southern Caucasus in the fifth century.
Historical evidence suggests the Roma were part of service-based castes, such as entertainers, blacksmiths, and animal caretakers. They may have left India to find new jobs and opportunities in the West, traveling through Persia and eventually reaching Europe. The Roma and Sinti faced persecution in Europe because their culture was different from that of Europeans. Their close-knit communities kept many traditions and genetic traits from India, making them seem foreign. Around the year 950, a Persian ruler named Shah Bahram Gur asked the king of Hindustan to send musicians. The king chose 12,000 people from the Luri tribe, who were skilled in playing the oud. This tribe was also known as the Zott and called themselves "Romas," a name linked to the Sanskrit word for "man of the low caste of musician."
As nomads, the Roma needed jobs that could be moved easily. Many became livestock traders, animal trainers, performers, metalworkers, and musicians. Women often worked as fortune-tellers, sold potions, begged, or performed. Because of their involvement in selling love potions and fortune-telling, the Roma were often accused of witchcraft. Singing and dancing were major ways the Roma earned money. They were frequently targeted by witch hunters.
The Roma first arrived in the Balkans in the 9th century, then in western Europe in the early 15th century, and northern Europe in the early 16th century. Their arrival in Europe coincided with accusations that they were witches. They were arrested and blamed for sorcery and witchcraft because they practiced magical cures and fortune-telling.
When the Roma first arrived in Europe, they did not see themselves as part of an ancient Indian culture. Europeans looked down on the Roma for their dark skin, associating it with ugliness, primitiveness, and Black people. Laws targeting the Roma were created soon after they arrived in Europe. At first, people thought the Roma were Christian Egyptians fleeing persecution, which led to the term "Gypsies," from "Egyptians." However, because the Roma had darker skin and lived nomadically, Europeans viewed them with suspicion. In 1721, Emperor Karl VI of Austro-Hungary started a plan to eliminate Romani people in what would become Germany. Other countries, like Romania, France, and Spain, later passed laws to relocate or kill Romani people. By the 19th century, European scholars described Romani and Jewish people as inferior, even calling them "the excrement of humanity." Charles Darwin, in 1871, said these groups were not as culturally advanced as settled peoples. This shows how both groups, without an official homeland, were seen as less evolved. In Europe, people lived in towns, mixing with neighbors and creating social systems based on settled lifestyles. The Roma, as nomads, did not fit into this system. Their different religious and cultural practices led to rumors that they were magicians or vampires, causing them to be excluded from society.
Contemporary antiziganism
A 2011 report from Amnesty International said that up to 10 million Roma in Europe face ongoing unfair treatment. The report also said that many governments in Europe have not met their responsibilities to protect the rights of Roma.
Prejudice against the Romani people, called antiziganism, has continued into the 2000s, especially in Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, and Kosovo. In Bulgaria, a professor named Ognian Saparev wrote that some people believe Roma are more likely to commit theft and use their minority status to pressure others. In 2007, European Union officials criticized the Czech Republic and Slovakia for separating Romani children from regular schools.
Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner, has spoken strongly against antiziganism. In 2008, he said that the way people talk about Roma today is similar to how they talked about them before World War II. He said that some people wrongly claim Roma are a threat to safety and health, even though most Roma are not criminals. He called this behavior shameful and dangerous.
According to a 2011 survey by Human Rights First, Roma often face attacks in public places, such as streets and markets. In some cases, attackers have targeted entire families in their homes or whole communities in areas where many Roma live. These attacks often harm people of all ages, including children, and sometimes aim to drive Roma out of cities.
Roma are often victims of violence by groups like white power skinheads, neo-Nazis, and white supremacists. Negative attitudes toward Roma vary across Europe.
Many countries still separate Romani children into schools or classes that are only for Roma. These schools often provide poor education and are in bad condition. Some Romani children are placed in classes for students with learning disabilities or in schools that have serious human rights issues.
Roma in cities are sometimes accused of crimes like stealing. A 2009 BBC documentary called Gypsy Child Thieves showed Romani children being kidnapped and forced to steal by gangs in Romania. However, a charity called Chachipe said the documentary spread harmful stereotypes about Roma and made it easier for people to attack them. The charity admitted that some events in the film were true.
The documentary suggested that in Milan, Italy, one Romani child could steal up to €12,000 in a month, with as many as 50 children involved in such activities. It also linked poverty, discrimination, and crime.
A United Nations study found that Roma are arrested for robbery more often than other groups. Groups like Amnesty International and Romani rights organizations say this is because of built-in racism and unfair treatment. In 2008, a Business Week article called the Romani population a "missed economic opportunity."
In the Czech Republic, some people signed a petition against moving Romani families from a city, fearing they would cause problems and that schools would not handle the increase in Romani students.
In 2009, the United Nations said that Roma in the European Union face widespread racism. The EU started a program called the Decade of Roma Inclusion to address these issues.
In 1995, a man named Franz Fuchs killed four Roma in Austria using a bomb attached to a sign that read "Roma zurück nach Indien" ("Romani back to India"). This was the worst racial attack in Austria after World War II.
In 2011, Bulgaria saw protests after a Romani leader ordered the murder of a man named Angel Petrov. The killer was sentenced to 17 years in prison, and an appeal was ongoing. People used racist messages on Facebook. In 2012, 2,000 people marched in Sofia, Bulgaria, against Roma, blaming them for problems in the country.
Volen Siderov, leader of a far-right party, called for the death penalty and for Roma to be moved to separate areas. Many protests included violence and racist shouting, such as "Gypsies into soap" and "Slaughter the Turks." Some protesters were arrested. News outlets called these events "anti-Romani pogroms."
In 2009, Bulgaria’s prime minister, Boyko Borisov, called Roma "bad human material." A European politician said this language was close to extreme right-wing views.
In 2019, riots broke out in Gabrovo, Bulgaria, after three Roma were accused of attacking a shopkeeper. Many Roma fled the town, and their homes were destroyed. Police told Roma to stay with relatives elsewhere. Many never returned.
In 2016, a man in Bulgaria named Angel Kaleev beat a 17-year-old Romani boy for saying Roma are equal to others.
Roma make up 2–3% of the population in the Czech Republic. A study from 1998 said that more than 60% of Czech prisoners are Roma, and 20–30% of Roma earn money through illegal activities like prostitution or theft. This means Roma are overrepresented in Czech prisons by more than 20 times compared to their population share.
Some local governments in the Czech Republic built walls to separate Roma from other people. This has been criticized by human rights groups and the European Union as racial segregation. An EU official called these walls a human rights violation. The Czech government gave money to help Roma, but much of it was used to buy homes from non-Roma people, creating areas where only Roma live.
A 2010 survey in the Czech Republic found that 83% of people believed Roma could not fit into society, and 45% said Roma were not able to integrate.
Environmental struggles
Environmental problems from industrial projects during the Cold War have affected the Roma people, especially those living in Eastern Europe. Many Roma live on the edges of towns and cities, where it is harder to find jobs, schools, or basic services. In 1993, Hungary was noted as a place where this issue occurred. The shift from a government-controlled economy to a market-based system caused economic challenges for many Hungarians, but Roma faced even greater difficulties, including high unemployment and lower incomes.
In the Chanov ghetto near Most, Czech Republic, panel buildings (panelák) were built in the 1970s for wealthy residents. Authorities later moved Roma from poorer areas into these buildings to live near other Czech citizens. However, as more Roma moved in, the original wealthy residents left, a process called "white flight." Over time, the area became mostly Roma, and a 2007 survey ranked it as the worst neighborhood in the Ústí nad Labem Region. Eventually, the buildings were destroyed after their materials were removed. Roma were blamed for this, even though the tenants still owed over €3.5 million in rent. These tenants continued to receive water and electricity, unlike many other European countries.
In the 1980s, some homes in this settlement were given to Roma who had moved from poor areas as part of an effort to help them integrate. Other homes were assigned to families of military and law-enforcement workers. However, these families later left, and living conditions for Roma worsened. Unpaid bills led to the loss of water, and an emergency plan provided water for only two hours each day to help with payments. Similar to Chanov, some buildings were destroyed, and Roma were again blamed for stealing materials.
Legal restrictions on the Roma’s traditional nomadic lifestyle have forced many to live in unsafe areas, such as old industrial sites, landfills, or polluted areas. These places often have polluted water and lack clean water or sanitation, making Roma more likely to suffer from health problems, including diseases. A group called the Health & Environment Alliance, based in Belgium, noted in a pamphlet that Roma often lack access to clean water, sewage systems, and natural resources, and face health risks from living near waste sites, factories, and pollution. After the fall of communism, privatization of water companies in Central and Eastern Europe made it harder for Roma to get clean water, as private companies avoided contracts with Roma. This led to frequent waterborne illnesses, such as diarrhea and dysentery, especially among children.
Implications of anti-Romani discrimination
The mistreatment of Romani people has serious physical effects. Many have suffered lasting injuries or even lost their lives. One major issue today is that some Romani women have been forced to undergo sterilization, which is an attempt to stop the Romani population from growing. This violence is not limited to one area. According to William Shankly of Ethnicity and Race in the UK: State of the Nation, violence against Romani people occurs in many places, including Britain.
The mistreatment of Romani people also has social effects. For example, Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, opposed Romani people in social matters and made false or harmful statements about them. Andrew Ryder explained that the "Gyöngyöspata case" was a turning point when Orbán shifted his focus from migrants to Romani people. Orbán claimed that "the people's sense of justice has been wounded" and that "we need to give justice to the Gyöngyöspata people," which excluded Romani people from being considered part of "the people." This message was clear to many Romani people who protested against a proposed national consultation. The prime minister’s public criticism of Romani people led to responses from Romani communities. "Because of discrimination, it is difficult for the Romani people to have a social identity," they said.
Anti-Roma discrimination has caused mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, psychosis, paranoia, and eating disorders among Romani people.
Romani people face discrimination in the job market. Poor living conditions and unfair treatment in housing make it hard for Romani people to live in their communities.
Romani people also face unfair treatment in healthcare settings.
The belief that Romani people are lazy has limited opportunities for non-Roma people to interact with Romani communities.
The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRRC) has recorded and taken legal action in many cases involving the deaths of Romani individuals at the hands of law enforcement. These incidents have caused international concern and calls for justice. Examples include the death of Henri Lenfant in France, the video-recorded death of Stanislav Tomáš in the Czech Republic, and the fatal shooting of Nikos Sabanis in Greece. Other cases, such as the death of Muszunye Mircea Vișan in a Romanian police station after being beaten until he had a heart attack, and the unexplained death of 27-year-old Jani Rustemaj while in police custody in Albania, have drawn attention to the ERRC’s efforts to address widespread unfair treatment.
Prevention
The Council of Europe recommends that Europeans include the Roma in society to reduce racism.
George Soros and Nicolae Gheorghe have supported the Roma community.
Amnesty International works to stop racism directed at the Romani people.
The European Commission actively fights anti-Romani racism. In 2020, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, asked member states to stop treating Roma unfairly.
Roma Resistance Day is a Romani holiday celebrated on May 16 each year. It honors the 1944 uprising by Romani prisoners at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp against Nazi rulers. This day recognizes the Roma’s efforts to survive and maintain dignity during the Holocaust.
Romani people have used music, such as flamenco, to challenge racism and stereotypes, as well as to earn a living.
In popular culture
In the media, Romani people, especially Romani women, are often shown as having magical powers. Movies like King of the Gypsies, Time of the Gypsies, and Alex & the Gypsy helped spread these negative ideas. Cher’s song “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves” also reinforced these stereotypes. The media often shows Romani women as having mystical abilities, being very sexual, and acting in ways that are not considered proper. They are also shown as working in prostitution and described as both “hot-blooded” and “cold-blooded.” These portrayals sometimes include claims that Romani women kidnap children or act violently. In books, Romani women are shown as promiscuous and difficult to manage. The media also shows Romani people as sneaky, overly sexual, dangerous, and criminal. Romani men are often shown as exotic and seductive. In books, the fear that non-Roma people have of the Roma is linked to ideas that Romani men are very sexual and not controlled. This leads to stories where Romani men are shown as seducing, corrupting, or kidnapping innocent women. Some Romanian artists saw Romani people as very sexual. The beauty of Romani women, especially flower girls, inspired many artists, with their charm tied to ideas of being very sexual. This stereotype is common for groups that are treated unfairly. These groups are often linked to nature and seen as more sexual or energetic than white people. This is also true for African Americans. In the French opera Carmen by Georges Bizet, a Romani woman is shown as very sexual, using her looks to influence men and avoid punishment. In the 19th century, an artist named Isidre Nonell painted Romani women with dark, dirty features and headscarves, showing them in a racialized way. These stereotypes in the media help justify discrimination against Romani people, and few people in the media question them. In 2021, a British comedian named Jimmy Carr made a joke about the Holocaust that hurt Romani people in his Netflix show. The media shows two main ideas about Romani women: one as poor beggars who take advantage of help, and the other as very sexual, magical figures who challenge white men’s control. The word “gypsy” may seem harmless, but it can be harmful because it creates false ideas about Romani people, ignoring the real racism they face. Linking ideas of uncontrollable sexuality to forced sterilization is not romantic and shows real harm. Romani women are often described as having “savage beauty,” shown as promiscuous, seductive, or passionate in ways that suggest they lack self-control, like in the Carmen stereotype. They are also seen as exotic and available to white men, often shown as mysterious, dark-haired “temptresses” or fortune tellers.
In much of 19th-century art, music, and books, Romani women were shown as free-spirited, strong, rebellious, and sexually attractive. Balkan Romani people have been musicians for many years, playing for people of all classes and backgrounds. However, they were not allowed in important concert halls. Even though they are talented, Romani people face rejection. They are admired for their music but disliked as people. These mixed views often focused on gender: the “barbaric” Romani man, often shown as a drug dealer, and the sexualized Romani woman. In the same way, “Gypsy” music is seen as wild for men and sensual for women. Early movies about Romani people repeated old stereotypes, especially focusing on the sexuality of women, creating the “Sexy Gypsy Stereotype.” These movies often show the confusion and mixed ideas people have about Romani people. Romani people are shown either positively or negatively, with their differences from non-Roma people exaggerated. For example, people believe Romani are closer to nature, more sensual, wild, and free. These portrayals rarely show real Romani people but instead fit into the idea of the “rhapsodic Roma.” When Romani people are shown as distant or mythical, they are seen as attractive, artistic, and free-spirited. The way non-Roma people idealize Romani people as free-spirited, link them to art like music, and connect them to nature and sexuality creates a dangerous but appealing image. Halloween costumes sometimes show Romani people as fortune tellers, seductive tricksters, or pirates, which mocks their culture and spreads stereotypes. These costumes show Romani people in a bad light, treat them as less than human, and make them seem like spellcasters. Romani men are shown as sexually immoral, abusive, and lecherous, while Romani women are shown as promiscuous witches.