Prime minister tells Roma: Your sufferings are mine

Erdoğan met with nearly 10,000 Roma yesterday in a meeting with a festive atmosphere, a move that came as a part of the government's democratic initiative, which is intended to expand the rights of previously disadvantaged groups and communities such as the Kurds, the Alevis and the Roma. “As the state, we have shouldered the responsibility on this [Roma] issue. From now on, your problems are my problems. Nobody in this country can be treated as ‘half' a person.

We cannot tolerate this,” the prime minister said during the speech he delivered at the Roma meeting at İstanbul’s Abdi İpekçi Sports Hall yesterday.

Thousands of Roma came to İstanbul from a number of provinces across Turkey early yesterday. The groups began gathering in front of the sports hall in the morning and waited for the meeting to start while dancing and singing songs. The meeting started at 12 p.m. with concerts and dance performances staged by various Roma groups. Famed Roma singer Balık Ayhan also gave a concert. The prime minister was met with slogans of “Tayyip Baba” (father Tayyip), and Turkish flags waved as he entered the jam-packed hall. The prime minister presented carnations to the Roma as he toured the hall.

The prime minister said the government is aware of the Roma people’s problems and that they have experienced many “resentful springs.” “This spring will be a very different one. This will be one when pain will turn into happiness and when resentments will be repaired. We are aware of the bitter smile on your face. We are aware of your sufferings, we are aware of your problems,” he added.

Prime Minister Erdoğan met with nearly 10,000 Roma on Sunday in a festive atmosphere as a part of the government’s democratic initiative.

“How succinctly a Roma saying explains the issue: ‘The road towards the destination is a part of the destination. It cannot be seen apart from the aim.’ Today we are heading towards the destination. We called this road the national unity and brotherhood project. We are taking up the issues one by one. The Kurds, the Laz, the Roma, the Circassians, all Turkish citizens, whoever comes to your mind, are our brothers. Their problems are our problems. I don’t want to see my Roma brothers in tents any more. I want them to enjoy a decent standard of living,” Erdoğan further remarked.

Since many Roma are nomads, they often live in tents in unsuitable living conditions.

Erdoğan also underlined that the government has begun to construct new housing for the Roma across Turkey, saying that the construction of 3,408 houses has already started. “We have taken the first steps. But we expect support from you as well. I hope this process will successfully continue and in time we will put an end to [the Roma’s] poverty and lack of education. We have strongly opposed the primitive mentality that there is no place for the Roma at state institutions, and we will continue to do so. We will construct the future with you,” he added.

The government launched the Roma initiative late last year. A government-sponsored workshop was held on Dec. 9, 2009 to address issues facing the Roma community. Representatives of Turkey’s Roma community in İstanbul, Edirne, Kırşehir, Artvin, Van and several other cities, 120 people in all, attended the event. A report was drafted listing the Roma community’s demands from the government following the workshop.

According to the workshop report, there are 500,000 Roma living in Turkey, while other sources estimate as many as 2 million. Some 20,000 Turkish Roma are nomads. The most significant problems experienced by the Roma are insults and discrimination. They are generally referred to as “çingene,” a pejorative term meaning gypsy, but there are 20 other expressions commonly used in Turkish to refer to them.

Stressing that Roma were treated as equal citizens during the reign of Ottoman Empire, Erdoğan said: “My brothers, I want to underline this point. Our civilization is nurtured by tolerance. The only thing not tolerated in these lands is intolerance. People from different backgrounds lived in these lands for centuries. … Our lands have never witnessed racism in history.”

Giving some examples of pejorative expressions commonly used in Turkish to refer to them, Erdoğan said: “No matter what people say, you are our friends. You are human. You are my Roma brothers.” Well-known Roma singer Kibariye took the stage following the prime minister and gave a concert.