Commemorative ceremony for Roma Holocaust victims held at Lety

Around one hundred people took part in a commemorative ceremony for Romany victims of the Holocaust at the Lety memorial in southern Bohemia on Sunday.

Speaking at the ceremony, Čeněk Růžička, from the Committee for compensation of Roma Holocaust victims, called on politicians to condemn hate speech against the Roma as they do expressions of anti-Semitism.

According to  Deputy Ombudswoman Monika Šimůnková, the Czech Republic needs to do more in addressing the problem of discrimination against the Romany minority in the areas of housing and education.

The commemorative event traditionally takes place in May, but was postponed due to the coronavirus.

More than 1,300 Roma men, women and children were held at the camp at Lety. An estimated 327 of them died at the site, largely due to disease; more than 500 of those interned were transported to the Auschwitz death camp in Poland, from which they never returned.