7 . Roma Holocaust Memorial Day , Roma Memorial Center Uštica | Picture by Veljko Kajtazi ( Flickr )
revisionism and are witnessing the rise of the extreme right in Europe . Fake news and distorted historical facts that spread through mass media and social networks reach an enormous number of people . From political arenas to the media , scientific and educational institutions , pseudoscientific research is disseminated in an attempt to distort collective memory , revise the past , and consequently destroy the dignity of the victims . In such an atmosphere , it is challenging to nurture a culture of remembrance . All of this becomes even more problematic when we consider that Romani and Sinti victims have never been studied systematically , even in more favorable times . Lies and prejudices about the Roma have persisted for centuries , and their exceptionally poor position is difficult to improve . Probably the most vulnerable ethnic minority on European soil suffers from racial harassment , mockery , segregation in schools , social exclusion , and poor quality of life .
Anna Míšková , a historian at the Museum of Romani Culture in Brno and a Czech delegate to IHRA , notes in a text on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance of the Genocide of the Roma , August 2 , that the discrimination of this ethnic group did not end with the liberation of concentration camps but continues to this day , clearly evidenced by the widespread distortion and neglect of the genocide against the Roma .
“ Unfortunately , the genocide against the Roma remains one of the lesser-known crimes of the Nazi era . This lack of recognition represents a harmful form of distortion that serves to perpetuate harmful stereotypes and ongoing discrimination against the Romani community . It is a clear reminder that distortion is not limited to the denial or minimization of the Holocaust but extends to other victims as well . We still encounter denial or questioning of the suffering of Roma and Sinti during World War II . There is still a belief in society that Roma were killed because of their way of life , their inadaptability , and even hereditary criminality ,” Míšková writes .
She believes that distorting history threatens to destabilize historical truth , undermine collective memory , and jeopardize the integrity of the lessons learned from this grave human rights tragedy . “ The erasure of the genocide against the Roma from the narrative of Nazi crimes symbolizes enduring social marginalization , reinforcing centuries-old prejudices , stigmatization , and discrimination . The distortion of history in various forms is a powerful
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Observing Memories Issue 8