Roma Union Rejects SNS's Criminal Code Amendment as 'Green Light to Fascists'

Bratislava, 15 January (TASR) - Civil association Union of Roma in Slovakia has condemned a Criminal Code amendment drafted by the coalition Slovak National Party that would lower penalties for extremist crimes, arguing that the proposal would give a "green light to fascists", association chair Frantisek Tanko stated at a press conference on Thursday. Roma Union called on the sponsors to withdraw the bill from Parliament, and if this doesn't happen, it urges MPs not to support it. "Roma across Slovakia are very outraged by this law proposed by the Slovak National Party ... This law against us Roma is absolutely unacceptable, it is absolutely unacceptable for someone to once again give a green light to fascists," said Tanko. The association chair fears that if the changes are approved, attacks on Roma will increase. "We also call on Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) to consider whether he will support this law or not, because this is already about human lives," he added, noting that the organisation also plans to address him via an open letter. Tanko added that if the proposal is approved, the association will turn to the European Union. A group of MPs from the coalition Slovak National Party have submitted an amendment to the Criminal Code to Parliament. Among other things, it proposes changes to sentencing ranges for extremist crimes, seeking to lower the upper limits of the penalties for several of them. mf/df