The Roma Council of Montenegro has strongly condemned the public statement of Veljo Stanišić, winner of the highest state award - the Thirteenth of July Award - who, commenting on Miloš Karadaglić's decision to refuse the award, said in a public television appearance on TV Gradska: "That's how Gypsies work."
As the Roma Council said, this statement is an unequivocal expression of hate speech and deep ethnic intolerance towards the Roma community in Montenegro.
"Using the term 'Gypsies' in a negative, derogatory context is not just a personal opinion, but a dangerous example of the normalization of racism and stereotyping of an entire ethnic group.
"The Roma Council considers it unacceptable and shameful that a person who uses discriminatory language and insults the dignity of the citizens of Montenegro should be the holder of a state award that should symbolize the fight for freedom, equality and human rights," the Roma Council said in a statement.
They state that the Roma community in Montenegro faces discrimination, poverty, institutional exclusion and hate speech on a daily basis.
"Mr. Stanišić's statement not only further endangers the position of Roma men and women, but also encourages an atmosphere of impunity when it comes to open discrimination," the statement added.
The Roma Council said they demand an urgent response from the institution of the Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms (Ombudsman) to investigate the hate speech and publicly express it, and from the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights to condemn this act and protect the constitutional order that guarantees the equality of all citizens,
In addition, they are demanding a public apology from Veljo Stanišić, as well as his public distancing himself from racist comments.
"The Roma Council calls on all public institutions, media, civil society organizations and citizens not to remain silent in the face of such incidents. Silence in this case means accepting and encouraging hate speech.
Montenegro cannot be a truly civil, legal and European state while public space is used to insult and dehumanize any minority group.
"The Roma Council will launch all available legal and institutional mechanisms to protect the dignity of the Roma people and prevent the further spread of hatred in the public," the statement concludes.
Last night, during a guest appearance on Gradska TV, Stanišić said, among other things, that Karadaglić was not worthy of the Thirteenth of July Award.
"To play with something so sacred like that, to **** it like that, that's a little, let me tell you, below par," the artist said on the show.
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