Roma organization files criminal complaint against Bernese Young SVP because of advertisement
The Association of Sinti and Roma in Switzerland is filing a criminal complaint against an election ad referring to «Gypsies» published online by the Young SVP of the Canton of Bern. The post violates the criminal provision on racism.
The criminal complaint filed on Friday is supported by the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP), as reported by the latter. The stumbling block is an election appeal published on the Internet under the title "Vote for JSVP candidates - prevent transit places for gypsies".
The illustration shows a Swiss man in alpine costume holding his nose in front of a pile of garbage in a caravan settlement. This suggests that "gypsies" are generally dirty, tend to commit crime, leave their faeces everywhere and disrupt public order, according to the STP's press release.
This "racist assumption" belittles an entire group. In addition, the term "gypsy" is an offensive term for members of the Sinti and Roma. In German-speaking countries, the term was coined as a result of the National Socialist genocide, which claimed the lives of at least 500,000 Sinti and Roma.
It is highly disconcerting that the Bernese Young SVP is using "racist resentment" against minorities to win votes. Government and cantonal elections will be held in the canton of Bern on March 25.
The canton of Bern is planning a regular transit area for foreign travelers in Wileroltigen on the A1 freeway. A citizens' committee is opposing this. In November, however, the cantonal parliament voted against a planning freeze demanded by the BDP and SVP. (SDA)
