Stehlíková says Roma seeking asylum in Canada should not plead persecution

The Minister for Minorities and Human Rights Džamila Stehlíková has said that Czech Roma seeking asylum in Canada should not plead persecution, as the percentage of crime which is racially motivated in this country is less than one percent. The minorities’ minister added that Romanies feeling threatened should seek help at home, from government bodies, NGOs and state institutions rather than seeking asylum abroad. Mrs Stehlíková made the remarks in response to the news that 466 Czechs have sought asylum in Canada since the North-American state raised visa restrictions last November. It is thought that the majority of these asylum seekers are Roma. Canada has said that it is considering reintroducing visa restrictions for Czechs if the number of asylum seekers crosses the 500 mark. Mrs Stehlíková caused anger amongst Romany-rights groups last month when she said that a small minority of Roma were making things hard for all Czechs traveling to Canada by seeking asylum from Ottawa.