Roma minority in Romania

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A bulibaşa photographed in the inter-war period
A bulibaşa photographed in the inter-war period

The Roma (Roma in Romani, Romi in Romanian) constitute one of the major ethnic groups in Romania. According to the 2002 census, they number 535,140 people or 2.5% of the total population, being the second-largest ethnic minority in Romania after Hungarians. The Roma are, however, also Romania's most socially- and economically-disadvantaged minority, and unofficial sources claim that there are up to 2 million Roma in the country, or approximately 8% of the total population. This may be caused either by the fact that many Roma do not declare their ethnicity in the census, or do not have an identity card or birth certificate.[1]

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[edit] Terminology

In Romani, the native language of the Roma, they are known as "Roma". In Romanian, they are officially known as "romi" ("rom" in singular), a spelling which is preferred by the majority of Roma NGOs. The spelling "rromi" (with a double "r") is also sometimes used in order to distinguish them from Romanians (români). This spelling does not, however, have any etymological grounding, even though it is preferred by some Roma groups.[2]

Colloquially, the word "ţigani" (cognate with Hungarian cigány, Greek ατσίγγανοι (atsinganoi), French gitans, etc.) is sometimes used, even though it is seen as derogatory, equivalent to the English word "gypsy".

[edit] Cultural influence

Roma music has had a major influence in Romanian culture, as most lăutari (wedding and party musicians) are of Roma ethnicity. Renowned Romanian-Roma musicians include Barbu Lăutaru, Grigoraş Dinicu, Johnny Răducanu, Damian Drăghici and Ion Voicu. In recent years, some Roma artists have started to publish traditional Roma music in albums as a measure of ethnic preservation.

The musical genre manele, a part of Romanian pop culture, is often sung by Roma singers in Romania and has been influenced in part by Roma music, but mostly by Oriental music brought in Romania by the Turkish occupation during the 19th century. A subject of controversy, manele This kind of music is both considered to be low-class kitsch by some people in Romania and enjoyed by others as fun party music.

[edit] Integration in Romanian society

Roma people are regarded by the EU organizations as discriminated people. While other countries have had a working social system and have succeeded to integrate ethnic Roma to some degree, there remains broad criticism about Romania.

Some Romanians claim a majority of Roma do not have IDs or birth certificates because they choose not to ask authorities to issue any kind of legal documents. For example, some children born at home are not reported and thus no birth certificate is generated. Contrarily, children born in hospitals are not allowed to leave the hospital until they have the birth certificate issued (which is the responsibility of the father, usually).

It is a common Romanian perception that Roma have disproportionately high crime rates. However, there is a lack of official statistics on ethnic criteria to support such stereotypes.

Some Romanians claim that embarrassing media coverage of illegal activities in the European Union conducted by immigrants from Romaia were supposedly conducted by ethnic Roma with Romanian citizenship. Some Romanians express concern regarding the possible confusion between the terms for ethnic Romanians ("Romani") and ethnic Roma/Romani ("Romi").

Generally, Roma claim that they suffer high unemployment because discrimination by Romanians. While many in EU concur, as do some Romanians, there are vocal Romanians who dispute such social problems and claim Roma do not like to work and prefer to live from criminal activities. As evidence, such Romanians point to Roma beggars commonly seen throughout Europe and the media portrayal of the extremely wealthy Roma palaces whose owners apparently profited from beggar racketeering. It remains a source of controversy today since scholars conclude that beggars represent an insignificant portion of the population.

In Romania, education it is free yet there is a high dropout rate of Roma which is explained as a part of Roma tradition. The EU has launched a program entitled "Decade of Roma Inclusion" to combat this and other problems.

Many Roma peoples living in traditional groups do not often mix with other ethnic groups, have special dress, may not go to school, may not work with legal forms (creating problems with future social assistance), have their own leadership and justice (that can sentence a death penalty).

However, other Roma are largely integrated or fully integrated into society. Scholarships in schools and universities were created for Roma by the state creating "positive discrimination" whose impact on improving integration in Romania remains to be seen.

In recent years many Roma emigrated from Romania to EU (fully or temporary). For those Romanians who remain critical of the Roma people, they claim European institutions and organizations seeking to protect the Roma will find it difficult to integrate. Other Romanians believe the EU will set an example for Romania to learn from.

[edit] Self-proclaimed leaders

 The neutrality of this section is disputed.
Please see the discussion on the talk page.

The Rromani community has:

  • An Emperor of Rroms from Everywhere, as Iulian Rădulescu proclaimed himself.[3] In 1997, Iulian Rădulescu announced the creation of Cem Romengo - the first Roma state in Târgu Jiu, in southwest Romania. According to Rădulescu, "this state has a symbolic value and does not affect the sovereignty and unity of Romania. It does not have armed forces and does not have borders".
  • A King of Rroms. In 1992, Ioan Cioabă proclaimed himself King of Rroms at Horezu, "in front of more than 10,000 Rroms" (according to his son's declaration). His son, Florin Cioabă, succeeded him as king.[4]
  • An International King of Rroms. On August 31, 2003, according to decree issued by Emperor Iulian, Ilie Stănescu was proclaimed king. The ceremony took place in Curtea de Argeş Cathedral, the Orthodox Church where Romania's Hohenzollern monarchs were crowned and are buried.[5]

Although none of the three above is regarded as a king or emperor, they are the Rroms which enjoy most media coverage (as shown by, but not limited to, the two scandals below). Maybe just Mădălin Voicu as a politician can compare to them, from a media coverage point of view.

[edit] Coronation of Ilie Stănescu as International King of the Rroma at Curtea de Argeş

The text read by one of the four priests performing the service includes:

"According to an Imperial Decree and with the approval of the Court of Vienna, in accordance with the council and the tradition of ethnic Rroms from within and outside Romania, forming a global people of 78 million Rroms, the supreme title of International King was accorded to His Majesty Stănescu Badea Ilie from the city of Costeşti, Romania."[6]

The Romanian Orthodox Church officials (Eparhia Argeşului şi Muscelului) announced:

"According to the request of Rroms from within and outside Romania, on Sunday, September 3rd of this year [2003], at the Curtea de Argeş monastery, we performed the ceremony of blessing the crown that will be worn by Mister Stănescu Badea Ilie, from Costeşti, Argeş, declared by imperial decree, issued by Emperor Iulian, International King of Rroms. The ceremony consisted in blessing the crown, which was done with holy water, followed by a Te Deum. Such services are common and can be done for any objects with Christian use: houses, offices, clothing, any kind of objects, etc..."[7]

[edit] Early age marriage scandal

On September 27, 2003, Ana Maria Cioabă, the 12-year-old daughter of Florin Cioabă (the King of Roma) was forced to marry Mihai Birita, a 15-year-old boy. Since both were below Romania's legal age of marriage (set at 16), no official marriage ceremony was performed. Ana Maria Cioabă fled from the wedding, but her father brought her back and she was forcibly married.[8] Particularly controversial was the fact that the groom showed the wedding guests a bloodied bed sheet to prove that the marriage had been consummated; in Romania, the age of consent is 15 years old, so sexual contact with the 12-year-old girl was illegal under Romanian law. A friend of her, Ms Dana Chendea, said "She told me it was the worst thing that ever happened to her. She felt like a huge rock fell on her."[8]

Baroness Emma Nicholson, the European Parliament rapporteur for Romania, said that it was a rape and the child must be given over to foster care. Subsequently, the Romanian authorities decided that Ana-Maria Cioabă and Mihai Birita must live separately and must not have any sexual relationships until the legal age of marriage. Ana-Maria was not, however, sent to foster care.[9]

Doru-Viorel Ursu, a former Romanian Minister of the Interior (1990–1991),[10] was the godfather of the young bride.[11]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ (Romanian) Popescu, Eugenia. "Rromii sunt, in continuare, victime ale intolerantei si discriminarii" (Roma are still victims of intolerance and discrimination), Cronica Română, February 22, 2006.
  2. ^ (Romanian) Istoria şi Cultura Minorităţii Rroma. Istoria şi Cultura Rromilor.
  3. ^ (Romanian) "Regele Cioabă vs. Iulian impăratul". Maxim. 
  4. ^ (Romanian) Popan, Cosmin. "Cioabă şi oalele sparte din şatră", Cotidianul, June 10, 2006.
  5. ^ (Romanian) "La Mânăstirea Curtea de Argeş s-au sfinţit doar podoabele specifice rromilor", Curierul Naţional, September 3, 2003.
  6. ^ (Romanian) Popa, Madalin. "Regele ţiganilor, încoronat la Curtea de Argeş!", Evenimentul Zilei, September 1, 2003.
  7. ^ (Romanian) Popa, Mădălin, Ghilezan, Marius. "Lovitura de cort", Evenimentul Zilei, September 3, 2003.
  8. ^ a b "Wedding of 12-year-old gypsy princess not recognised", The Sydney Morning Herald, October 2, 2003.
  9. ^ (Romanian) "Ana-Maria Cioaba şi Mihai Birita, nevoiţi să locuiască separat", Adevărul, October 3, 2003.
  10. ^ (Romanian) Doru-Viorel Ursu: Curriculum Vitae. Structura Parlamentului României 1992-1996. Chamber of Deputies of Romania.
  11. ^ (Romanian) Duca, Dan. "Cioabă face revoluţie în şatră", Cotidianul.

[edit] External links


Flag of the Roma people The Roma minority in Romania Romanian flag
Organisations National Agency for the Roma | Aven Amentza | Romani CRISS | Resource Center for Roma Communities | Romanothan
Initiatives Decade of Roma Inclusion | National Day of Commemorating the Holocaust | Racism Breaks the Game
People Mădălin Voicu | Ion Voicu | Nicolae Păun | Gheorghe Răducanu | Taraful Haiducilor | Fanfare Ciocărlia
Demographics List of towns in Romania by Roma population
Culture Romani language | Kalderash | Boyash | Ursari | Lăutari | International Romani Art Festival
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