Roma man discriminated against in access to a club

Alert DateJanuary 27, 2011 Country: Poland Address: Poznań General Type: Discrimination Racism and discrimination phenomena: Anti-roma/zinghanophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Roma & Travelers Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Daily life

Related Policy Responses

Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Victims Gender Male
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number 1
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin Cuban, Polish
Perpetrator Gender Male, Female
Perpetrator Age N/A
Perpetrators Number 3
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

In December 2010, a Roma man was asked to leave a club Cuba Libre, and a week later was not allowed to enter at all. The club’s security guards explained that Roma are banned from these premises by order of the owner. Proceedings are pending before the District Court in Poznan concerning the infringement of personal rights of the Roma, who experienced discrimination in the access to the club. This incident is also being examined by the public prosecution. Initially, it stated that this case should not be treated as a crime, but as an offense consisting in “unfounded refusal to provide a service by a person whose profession consists in providing services, or relatively an infringement of personal rights” (Article 138 of the Code of Petty Offenses). On this basis, in March 2011, the court imposed a fine on two bodyguards in the amount of 1,000 PLN. However, in April, the prosecution recognised a complaint lodged by the Roma Association in Poland and launched an investigation regarding public insults against a person belonging to the Roma ethnic minority.

This case had been widely discussed in the media. The journalists reported also other cases of discrimination against Roma in access to services in Poznań area.



Source: Gazeta.pl http://poznan.gazeta.pl/poznan/1,36001,9009732,Poznanscy_restauratorzy__Romow_nie_wpuszczamy.html