Forum Views () 
Forum Replies ()  
 
 
Read more with google mobile :
French police keep 'illegal' ethnic lists of Roma: lawyers  
 
 
 
 
 
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
 
 
 
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
French police keep 'illegal' ethnic lists of Roma: lawyers
 
 
  
 
 AFP - Friday, October  8
 
 
Send
 
IM Story
 
Print
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 French police keep 'illegal' ethnic lists of Roma: lawyers
 
 
 
 
 
 
PARIS (AFP) - – French police are keeping secret lists of Roma and other travelling minorities in breach of laws on ethnic profiling, lawyers for rights groups alleged in a formal complaint seen by AFP on Thursday.
 
The allegation of the secret list of ethnic minorities from travelling communities, also reported on Thursday by the newspaper Le Monde, comes after the government drew international criticism this summer for stepping up expulsions of Roma.
 
The complaint cites what it calls "illegal" and "undeclared" documents held by the Central Office for the Fight Against Itinerant Delinquency (OCLDI), a state body run by gendarmes, France's paramilitary police.
 
According to the text of the complaint lodged by the groups, the office compiled documents that aimed to "make a genealogy of Gypsy families."
 
To do so "seems to be possible only by the use of a file" based on ethnic origin, it said.
 
Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux said he "didn't know of" such a document and ordered a probe to determine if such lists exist.
 
Earlier the ministry said all police databases would be checked "out of concern for total transparency."
 
The ministry said the OCLDI formerly had a "genealogical file" which "was deleted on December 13, 2007."
 
The gathering by officials of demographic data classified by ethnic origin is prohibited in France. Authorities have denied such a list exists amid an outcry against President Nicolas Sarkozy's Roma crackdown in recent months.
 
"My information, which comes directly from the gendarmerie, is that no such document exists or rather no document of that type has existed since 2007," Sarkozy's special advisor Henri Guaino said on the Canal+ television channel.
 
Hortefeux said in August that authorities held data on nationalities but not on ethnic groups and denied the government was targeting Roma, hundreds of whom have been repatriated to Romania and Bulgaria.
 
However a note later came to light, signed by Hortefeux's chief of staff Michel Bart and dated August 5, which was sent to police chiefs and stated that "Roma camps are a priority" in the crackdown and expulsions.
 
In the complaint revealed Thursday, lawyer William Bourdon and two others acting for four Roma rights groups called for prosecutors to launch an inquiry.
 
The European Commission has slapped down France over its Roma expulsions and threatened legal action unless Paris abides by EU rules on freedom of movement by October 15.
 
Failing that France will face a formal notice of infringement proceedings, a process which in theory could land it in the dock at the European Court of Justice -- though such cases are generally resolved amicably.
 
EU justice chief Viviane Reding said last month she was "appalled" by France's treatment of Roma and upset Paris by saying it was "a situation I had thought Europe would not have to witness again after the Second World War."
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recommend
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Send
 
IM Story
 
Print
 
 
 
 
 
 
Related Articles
 
 
Sudan launches manhunt for kidnapped UN staffer AFP -  30 minutes ago
 
UK-World Summary Reuters -  35 minutes ago
 
Hungary spill pollution eases, no damage to Danube Reuters -  38 minutes ago
 
Russian rocket blasts off carrying astronauts to ISS AFP - 1 hour 35 minutes ago
 
US, France push Guinea to go ahead with vote AFP - 2 hours 14 minutes ago
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
News Search
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Top Stories
 
 
 
 
UAE goes back on planned BlackBerry services ban
Obese workers cost US 73-bln dlrs a year: study
Europe takes currency fight to US
ECB holds rates steady, sticks by weak eurozone states
New technologies confuse reality and fiction: Pope
 
 
 
 More Top Stories »
 
 
 
ADVERTISEMENT
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Most Popular
 
 
 
 
Most Viewed
 
Most Recommended
 
 
 
 
Games backs safe sex despite plumbing problems
 
Erotic calendar wishes 'Happy Birthday, Mr Putin'
 
Peru mines nutrient-rich bird excrement on islands
 
Dollar slides against euro, yen
 
Dracula fish, bald bird among strange new species
 
 
 More Most Viewed »
 
 
 
 
 
US state executes first woman in nearly 100 years
 
Workers swarm Europe's streets in anti-cuts protests
 
Global marine life census charts vast world beneath the seas
 
 
 More Most Recommended »
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
 
 
 
 
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
 
 
Stars and latest movies
 
 
Best travel destinations
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
More on Yahoo! News
 
 
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
 
Also on Yahoo!
 
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
 
Site Highlights
 
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Yahoo! News Network 
 
 
 
 Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
    
  
  
   
 
 
    
   
 
Other News on Friday,  8 October 2010 Archbishop warns vote failure will restart Sudan war  
Italy nabs mafia fugitive in secret wardrobe  
Medvedev reassures Greek Cypriots on Turkey ties  
EU and U.S. hold talks after terror alert causes alarm
|  
Europe takes currency fight to US  
France burqa ban passes last legal hurdle  
ECB holds rates steady, sticks by weak eurozone states  
New technologies confuse reality and fiction: Pope  
South Africa's Desmond Tutu retires from public life
|  
Israel's 'Jewish state' loyalty oath sparks anger  
China's Liu leads Kohl, EU in Peace Nobel race: TV
|  
Sarkozy tweaks key pension reform  
Cubans face new reality as job cuts begin
|  
Russia successfully tests long-range missile  
Armed men kidnap peacekeeper in Sudan's Darfur
|  
Israel says targeted Gaza militants in air strike
|  
Norwegian media tips Chinese dissident for Peace Prize  
Eight killed in Pakistan shrine bombing: police  
Appeal launched after 100m winner Pearson disqualified  
Jordan back in action as video game star  
Two Germans killed in Vietnam fireworks blast  
US missiles kill militants in Pakistan amid tense ties  
Stars flock to Rome's 'multicultural' film festival  
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary  
Stars gather for top Asian film festival  
Citi ordered to pay actor Larry Hagman $11.5 million  
Australian PM scraps 'citizens' assembly' on global warming  
Toni Braxton files for bankruptcy again  
Blasts kill at least 7 in Pakistan's Karachi  
Spider-Man creator turns to NHL for new heroes  
China faces currency pressure at global economy meet  
FBI seizes John Lennon fingerprints before auction  
EU offers trade-tied aid to Pakistan, suspends import duties  
Tech execs tell White House IT can curb deficit
|  
Iranian-Lebanese film recounts suffering in war with Israel  
EU sees tariff cuts helping flood-hit Pakistan  
Story of Anne Frank friends to be sold  
Cisco unveils $599 home videoconference system
|  
G20 summit will discuss currency disputes: Seoul  
Eva Longoria to host MTV Europe awards  
S.Korea builder finalises Libya deal as row is settled  
Philippines keeps interest rates unchanged  
China seals 2.25 bln euro business deals with Italy  
Toni Braxton files for bankruptcy again
|  
Beverly Hills adds star power to TV's Real Housewives
|  
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a hockey superhero!
|  
FBI seizes John Lennon fingerprints before auction
|  
A Minute With: Diane Lane, off to the races in Secretariat
|  
Citi ordered to pay actor Larry Hagman $11.5 million
|  
New funding for Viewdle, which lets smartphones 'see'  
Israel to buy 20 F-35 fighter jets in deal with US  
US, France push Guinea to go ahead with vote  
Afghan security contractor oversight poor: Senate report
|  
US security firms funnel cash to Taliban: report  
Nobel laureate worries for literature in digital age  
French police keep 'illegal' ethnic lists of Roma: lawyers  
UAE goes back on planned BlackBerry services ban  
Armed men kidnap peacekeeper in Sudan's Darfur  
China's Liu leads Kohl and EU in Peace Nobel race: report
|  
Medvedev reassures Greek Cypriots on Turkey ties  
US-TECH Summary  
Pakistan to probe video showing army killings
|  
Israel says targeted Gaza militants in air strike  
Obese workers cost US 73-bln dlrs a year: study  
Hungary spill pollution eases, no damage to Danube
|  
Sudan attacks Darfur rebels hours before U.N. visit  
China Telecom may be in talks to offer iPhone: report  
Karzai inaugurates Afghan peace council  
Microsoft licenses some Palm smartphone patents  
Magnitude 6.3 quake hits Indonesia's Moluccas islands
|  
Amazon planning app store for Android: report  
Australian farmers to lose water to restore rivers
|  
Mobile and 'cloud' computing key future job skills: IBM  
No easing of Palestinian demand seen at Arab League
|  
Adobe shares jump on Microsoft buy report  
UK in talks for France to service nuclear warheads: report
|  
 seeks boost from search  
Vettel fastest in Japan F1 GP first practice  
Facebook Groups dinged for drafting members  
S.Korean given jail term for killing Vietnamese bride  
Adobe shares surge on Microsoft acquisition report  
Author says China 'stupid' over book clampdown  
Russian rocket blasts off carrying astronauts to ISS  
Afghan security contractor oversight poor  
Waste pickers offer climate change solution  
Search for missing tourist thwarted by drug gangs  
US-Pakistani tension 'exposes contradictory aims'  
Taiwan court extends former president's detention  
Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius  
N.Zealand embarrassed over TV host's race remarks: PM  
US chef trains like an athlete for French culinary 'gold'  
US warns Europe of persistent terror threat  
Microsoft licenses some Palm smartphone patents
|  
China dissident, Myanmar radio, tipped for Nobel Prize  
Zuckerberg takes staff to see "Social Network"  
Kyrgyz candidate warns of rent hike for US base  
Software on tap to slim actors on-screen
|  
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region  
Ultra-modern museum reveals Krakow's mediaeval past  
Frisky seniors, mentally disabled star in new TV shows  
UAE says BlackBerry dispute resolved before deadline
|  
Adobe shares jump on Microsoft buy report
|  
Tina Fey joins "Women of SNL" special  
Zuckerberg takes staff to see Social Network
|  
Paramount grabs Jason Reitman-Diablo Cody comedy  
Amazon planning app store for Android: report
|  
"Red White & Blue" whips up familiar torture porn  
"Life" a favorite to top weekend box office  
Cellphones move into cars, to hit satnav makers
|  
Bruno Mars continues reign atop U.S. singles chart  
China Telecom may be in talks to offer iPhone: report
|  
IMF meets amid threat of currency war  
Seoul shares slip;Shinhan, Doosan Heavy down  
S.Korea regulator asks banks to refrain from forex lending  
China's Wen in Turkey to lure rising economic star  
Korea Hot Stocks  
RPT-Taiwan dollar rises anew, cbank to keep it managed  
S.Korean bonds steady early, fund inflows support  
Japan cabinet approves 61.3 billion dollar stimulus  
Seoul shares flat; techs dip, shipyards gain  
Michael Douglas near end of throat cancer treatment
|  
India says global imbalances unsustainable  
Zuckerberg takes staff to see Social Network
|  
Tina Fey joins Women of SNL special
|  
Privacy fears as eight in 10 kids have photos online  
Bruno Mars continues reign atop U.S. singles chart
|  
Life a favorite to top weekend box office
|  
Juliette Lewis banged up but okay after car crash
|  
Software on tap to slim actors on-screen  
Paramount grabs Jason Reitman-Diablo Cody comedy
|  
Toni Braxton files for bankruptcy again
|  
Red White & Blue whips up familiar torture porn
|  
Anna Nicole Smith drug trial nears its end
|  
Chemical tanker in trouble off France  
Microsoft boss silent on possible Adobe acquisition  
US sheds 95,000 jobs amid government downsizing  
Chile hopes to start evacuating miners on Tuesday
|  
Microsoft boss decries software piracy by China firms  
Spanish police smash online paedophilia ring  
Bomb kills Afghan governor, 15 others: official
|  
UAE cancels planned BlackBerry services ban  
BET Hip Hop Awards 2010 Gets TV Premiere On October 12  
Israel kills two Hamas militants in W.Bank
|  
With Twitter blocked, Chinese micro-blogging thrives  
U.S. Economy Continues To Shed Jobs In September  
Iraqis on edge as rocket attacks intensify
|  
PepsiCo Sees 3Q Profit Jump But Cuts Outlook  
China blames climate talks standoff on rich nations
|  
UAE says BlackBerry dispute resolved before deadline  
New York TV Reporter Accused Of Sexual Assault On Minor  
Amnesty issues call for U.S. to drop death penalty  
Heidi Klum Partners With New Balance For New Fashion Range  
Former NY Comptroller Admits Taking $1 Million In Kickback Scheme  
CDC Says Binge Drinking Rates Have Not Declined In More Than A Decade  
With Twitter blocked, Chinese micro-blogging thrives  
Pakistan's ISI, a hidden, frustrating power for U.S.
|  
Ten Injured In Knott's Berry Farm Roller Coaster Collision  
Johnny Depp makes surprise school visit in pirate gear  
Obese Workers Cost Companies $73 Billion  
N.Korean official 'confirms heir's succession'  
Rescuers lift crew from troubled tanker off France
|  
"Two And A Half Men" Star Angus T. Jones Scores $7.8 Million Deal  
Gold rush at Delhi Games after sprint heartbreak  
Nine killed in teen suicide attack at Pakistan shrine  
Pakistan to probe video showing "army killings"  
Indonesia flood toll rises to 110  
Cambodians hold buffalo race to honour the dead  
Apple in talks on fee-based music service: report
|  
Pakistani stocks extend gains on hopes of good earnings  
China's currency strengthens ahead of IMF meeting  
Japan's Fast Retailing forecasts profit slide  
RPT-UPDATE 1-Taiwan raises rates on reserve requirements for T$  
China to be second richest country by 2015: study  
China's Zijin Mining fined over toxic spill  
Honda launches hybrid Fit to take on Toyota's Prius  
Investment case against ex-UMC head dropped  
Johnny Depp makes surprise school visit in pirate gear
|  
Apple in talks on fee-based music service: report
|  
Former voice of Dora the Explorer sues Nickelodeon
|  
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro  
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found  
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever  
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production  
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time  
AMD to Start Production of piledriver  
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs  
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia  
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air  
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch  
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent  
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up  
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform  
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis  
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets  
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights