Hindus are asking for official apology from Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt for reported compilation of a register on Roma people.
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that it was shocking to learn a country like Sweden; said to be one of the world’s most highly developed post-industrial nations; displaying such prejudice, racism and discrimination.
Reports suggested existence of a secret police register in Sweden containing thousands mostly Roma names, including some children as young as two and also dead people. What happened to the Swedish claims of tolerance and when it became a norm in Sweden to process information based on ethnicity, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, asked?
Rajan Zed pointed out that if Sweden continued to maltreat its Roma population; European Commission should jump in and ensure that fundamental rights of Roma were protected. Roma should not be treated as “unwanted” in Sweden.
Zed noted that despite various government measures, Roma still reportedly faced political, social, and economic exclusion in Sweden. It was Sweden\'s moral obligation to improve the plight of its Roma and stop human rights violations suffered by them, who were reportedly the most disadvantaged. Roma had been living in Sweden since the sixteenth century.\"How many more centuries must they reside in Sweden to prove that they were \'real and equal\' Swedes like any other?” Zed asked.
Rajan Zed further said that Church of Sweden, which was the national church, should also come out in support of the cause of this distinct ethnic and cultural group of Roma, because religion taught us to help the helpless and it was the duty of majority to protect its minority.
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that it was shocking to learn a country like Sweden; said to be one of the world’s most highly developed post-industrial nations; displaying such prejudice, racism and discrimination.
Reports suggested existence of a secret police register in Sweden containing thousands mostly Roma names, including some children as young as two and also dead people. What happened to the Swedish claims of tolerance and when it became a norm in Sweden to process information based on ethnicity, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, asked?
Rajan Zed pointed out that if Sweden continued to maltreat its Roma population; European Commission should jump in and ensure that fundamental rights of Roma were protected. Roma should not be treated as “unwanted” in Sweden.
Zed noted that despite various government measures, Roma still reportedly faced political, social, and economic exclusion in Sweden. It was Sweden\'s moral obligation to improve the plight of its Roma and stop human rights violations suffered by them, who were reportedly the most disadvantaged. Roma had been living in Sweden since the sixteenth century.\"How many more centuries must they reside in Sweden to prove that they were \'real and equal\' Swedes like any other?” Zed asked.
Rajan Zed further said that Church of Sweden, which was the national church, should also come out in support of the cause of this distinct ethnic and cultural group of Roma, because religion taught us to help the helpless and it was the duty of majority to protect its minority.
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