French Activist: French Threat for Roma Extradition Disrespects Bulgaria's EU Membership
2010-07-31 12:39:19

Activist Malik Salemkour from the leading French human rights watchdog Human Rights League (Ligue des droits de l'homme) said that the vow of French interior minister Brice Hortefeux to deport Roma from Bulgaria and Romania is discriminatory and disrespectful of the membership of the two countries in the EU.

Speaking for the Bulgarian National Radio Saturday morning, Selamkour characterized the words of the senior French government official as “scandalous.”

The human rights activist said that the blanket statement of the French interior minister violates the right of free movement which has been for a long time fundamental in the EU.

It moreover violates the right of non-discrimination, said Selamkour, thus breaching at least two fundamental rights that should belong to any European citizen in accordance with the EU Treaties.

The Human Rights League activists lashed out at the plans of the French government, saying it was “not geared to solving the problem” and targeted “those who are most vulnerable and lacking in protection.”