FOLLOW-UP PROTESTS AGAINST RACIST BOOK

[Stoimen]

Sarenge,

Second half of October 2012 we posted the page below on Khetanes. It is from a book by Professor Géza Jeszenszky, a historian, also a welknown Hungarian politician and internationally active.

In Professor Jeszenszky's book, that students at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Corvinus University in Budapest, Hungary, are required to study(!), Roma are called mentally ill.

Quote from the book: "The reason why many Roma are mentally ill is because in Roma culture it is permitted for sisters and brothers or cousins to marry each other or just to have sexual intercourse with each other." This so-called Romani practices are linked to poverty and crime.

 

The quote can be found on page 273. In this blog also the other pages from the chapter can be read. See further below and click right to enlarge the text!

 

The book by Professor Jeszenszky, current ambassador for Hungary to Norway, provoked worldwide protests. Also World Artists Initiative "Khetanes" sent letters of protest, to the author, the Corvinus University, the Hungarian Embassy in Norway, the European Commission, the European Parliament and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

This blog is meant to update you on the answers and new letters or steps. The International Romani Anti-Defamation League, part of Khetanes, takes a lead, but all Khetanes members are invited to join and to co-sign!

 

Thank you!

[Stoimen]

LETTER OF PROTEST BY KHETANES:

 

 

International Romani Anti-Defamation League
World Artists Initiative "Khetanes"
Waterschap 90, 5345 RA Oss, Nl
Phone: [phone]
[e-mail]
www.khetanes.org
RISN: 850843467

TO:

Professor Zsolt Rostoványi, Rector Corvinus University Budapest
Professor László Zsinka, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences, Corvinus University
Professor Zéga Jeszenszky, Hungarian Ambassador to Norway, Professor at Corvinus University
Hungarian Embassy to Norway in Oslo
LIBE Committee of the European Parliament, Brussels
Juan Fernando López Aguilar, chair of the LIBE committee
Mrs Kinga Gál, vice-chair of the LIBE committee
Mrs Sophia in 't Veld, vice-chair of the LIBE Committee
Johannes Laitenberger, Chef de Cabinet of President Jose Manuel Barroso
Martin Selmayr, Chef de cabinet of Commissioner and Vice-President Viviane Reding
Vladimír Sucha, Director Culture in the Cabinet of Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou
Mrs Navanethem Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights


We, the undersigned, are writing to express our concern regarding defamatory content featured in the book "Post-communist Europe and its National/Ethnic Problems: a course-pack" written by Dr. Géza Jeszenszky and published in 2009. The book was considered required reading for many classes at Corvinus University, widely believed to be one of the best in Hungary.
Jeszenszky's book makes libelous claims against the minority Roma population, stating (among other defamatory comments) that "Their [the Roma's] low status on the job market and higher unemployment rates perpetuate poverty, widespread social problems and crime. The reason why many Roma are mentally ill is because in Roma culture it is permitted for sisters and brothers or cousins to marry each other or just to have sexual intercourse with each other" (pg. 273).

Not only are these statements racist and inflammatory, they are also at the most basic level incorrect. The text makes claims that are not supported in any way by facts or statistics. Rather it attempts to avoid placing blame on the national authorities who have truly caused the current state of affairs: a low participation and high unemployment rate cannot bring about high levels of poverty, though they can lead to that state; people who discriminate and exclude bring about this state of affairs.

Roma in Hungary live mostly in segregated neighbourhoods and are suffering 70% unemployment. In this condition of social exclusion, Roma are unable to gain adequate access to education and health care, as well as having limited access to employment opportunities. Many Roma children have been required to attend special schools for no other reason than that they are Roma.

As the former minister of Foreign Affairs, former Ambassador to the USA, and currently ambassador of Hungary to Norway, Dr. Jeszenszky should understand that this kind of rhetoric is archaic and does not serve a modern and burgeoning European country such as Hungary.

Humanitarian concerns aside, Jeszenszky's comments are clearly bigoted, defamatory, and misrepresentative of Roma culture and family life. While it is true that Roma culture centers on the role and maintenance of family ties, this does not involve relationships such as those described by Jeszenszky within the family unit. Throughout Europe (and indeed the rest of the world) Roma heavily research family genealogy to ensure there is no relationship between prospective sexual partners or marriage candidates. Relationships with close family members are strictly taboo. To state that Roma are "mentally ill" because of such indecent acts can be considered by any court of law as an act of defamatory libel.

Although recent protests about this book have achieved limited success, with both the Hungarian Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Corvinus University distancing themselves from both Dr. Jeszenszky and his publication, this does not solve the problem. The damage has already been done and continues to be done as long as this volume remains in print and Dr. Jeszenszky is not held accountable. Universities are supposed to be institutions of higher learning, preparing students to be compassionate, just, and rounded citizens. In this respect, Corvinus University has failed its students. The existence of this book and the statements it contains continues to cause significant harm, whether currently an active part of the curriculum or not.

The more than 800 members of World Artists Initiative "Khetanes", originating from 50 countries, all sincerely believe that education and art are important tools to end the current crisis that is fuelled by populism, fear and xenophobia. Scapegoating means widening gaps, which - according to us - need to be bridged in order to find a common ground.  In this approach and analysis we are supported by officials from the European Commission that invited us to present our plans in April 2012 in Brussels.

We demand the immediate removal of this offensive material from the shelves and bookstores at Corvinus University, as well as for Dr. Jeszenszky to be held accountable for his damaging actions.



Yours,

Els de Groen, writer, poet, former MEP, Main Board Khetanes, Netherlands

Paul Rafferty, journalist, secretary Main Board Khetanes, USA/Netherlands

Ciuin Ferrin, Educational Editor, O Porrajmos Education Society, Daily Board Member Khetanes, USA


Niko Rergo, researcher, lawyer, writer, university teacher, Daily Board Member Khetanes Ukraine


Lukás Houdek, photographer, Daily Board Member Khetanes, Czech Republic

Zoran Tairovic, multimedia artist, painter, master of management in culture, Daily Board member Khetanes, Serbia

Anouk Sluizer, filmmaker, Daily Board Member Khetanes, Netherlands

Cristina Barzi, actress, singer, performer, Daily Board Member Khetanes, Italy

Valery Novoselsky, Executive Editor Roma Virtual Network, Daily Board Member Khetanes, Israel

Roxana Marin, President Center for Action and Responsibility in Education, Bucharest, Daily Board Member Khetanes, Romania

 

Eszter Pasztor, project manager Bódvalenke Fresco Village, Daily Board Member Khetanes, Hungary


Viola Hinz-Razavi, psychologist and artist, Daily Board Member Khetanes, Germany

Glenda Bailey-Mershon, writer, historian, Romani Rights Activist, Daily Board Member Khetanes, USA

Lynn Hutchingson Lee, artist, Daily Board Member, Khetanes, Canada

Qristina Cummings, writer, photographer, coordinator International Romani Anti-Defamation League of Khetanes, Media and Public Communications Director, O Porrajmos Education Society, USA

Chad Evans Wyatt, Professional Photographer, owner Professional Photography Business, USA

Tini Chris, musician, artist, reporter, Hungary

Inma Guiu, Multimedia Producer and Journalist, Owner VGMediaConsulting, Romania

Agnes Daroczi, Minority Researcher, Hungary

Moris Farhi, writer, UK

Adam Dinu, writer, journalist, translator, President of ASPER (Association For a Performant Society), Bucharest, Romania

Jeannette Gregori, teacher at Marc Bloch Highschool (Strasbourg) and photographer, France

Patricia Ter Heun, investments professional, artist and dancer, Canada

Gordana Radulovic, Romologist and project writer, Serbia

H.U Ellenberger, Chemical Engineer, translator, Lucigano (AR), Italy

Miomirka Mila Melank, Communication designer, working at Design Association ULUPUBIH, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Kujtim Pacaku, academic, branch of musicology, poet, actor and journalist, Kosovo

Katjusha Kozubek, artists, director of Romani Dance School, Berlin, Germany

Tina Burbank, educational consult and artist, Canada

Riza Laha, poet, writer, Albania

Mónica Santos Carrilo, human rights activist, Spain

Ronald Lee, author and lecturer, vice-chairman Board of Directors Roma Community Centre, Toronto, Canada

Wlavira Turczineck, teacher of dance, Brazil

Martin Kaneko, Teacher at the Japan Women's University, Japan

Zuzana Brejcha, film maker, Austria

Kerstin König, economist, Germany

Hasiba Dzemajli, social worker, translator, human rights activist, Kosovo

Tunde Buzetzky, facilitator Decade of Roma Inclusion Secretariat Foundation, Hungary

Dr. H.C. Mariella Mehr, writer, Lucignano (AR), Italy

William Lazarus Bila, Roma Rights activist, France

Anna Marie Stenberg, writer, Canada

Roberto Malini, poet, writer, co-president EveryOne Group, Italy

Dario Picciau, movie director, member of the Executive Board of The International Academy of Digital Art and Sciences, Director White Mouse Publishing, Co-President EveryOne Group, Italy

Steed Gamero, photographer, Co-President EveryOne Group, Italy

Fabio Patronelli, artist, Co-President EveryOne Group, Italy

Yannick Pirod, president of the French cultural Association E-Media Concept, sea captain, France

Bob Kozak, musician, owner of KORO Entertainment, Canada

Hristo Kyuchukov, academic, writer, Free University Berlin, Germany; St Elizabeth University Bratislava, Slovakia


Peter Jorna, Consultancy Social Inclusion, Roma & Sinti Issues 'at Home and Abroad', Netherlands

 

[Stoimen]

Our joint letter of protest, sent 1 November 2012, made Professor David Scheffel react on 2 November 2012. In his letter to the rector, cc Khetanes, cc LIBE committee of the European Parliament, he is supporting Professor Jeszenszky:

LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR PROF. JESZENSZKY FROM DAVID SCHEFFEL:

Dear Professor Rostoványi,

 

I am writing to you in response to the petition from the World Artists’

Initiative “Khetanes” whose signatories demand that the Corvinus

University take disciplinary action against Dr. Géza Jeszenszky on

account of a controversial passage found in the material employed in one

of his courses. The passage, as quoted by the signatories, reads: “The

reason why many Roma are mentally ill is because in Roma culture it is

permitted for sisters and brothers or cousins to marry each other or

just to have sexual intercourse with each other.”

 

The signatories consider such claims “bigoted, defamatory, and

misrepresentative of Roma culture and family life.” According to them,

“While it is true that Roma culture centers on the role and

maintenance of family ties, this does not involve relationships such as

those described by Jeszenszky within the family unit. Throughout Europe

(and indeed the rest of the world) Roma heavily research family

genealogy to ensure there is no relationship between prospective sexual

partners or marriage candidates. Relationships with close family members

are strictly taboo.”

 

As a long-time researcher of sexual relations and marriage practices

found among rural Roma in eastern Slovakia, I agree with the signatories

that there is no empirical evidence to support the controversial claim

in its entirety. However, while the assertion that “in Roma culture it

is permitted for sisters and brothers...to have sexual intercourse” is

clearly nonsensical and outrageous, the reference to “cousins” engaging

in sexual and marital relations is supported by factual evidence. There

are many credible scholarly sources attesting to the high incidence of

consanguinity among European Roma, and my own research results show that

unions between closely related individuals (including a high proportion

of first cousins) are tolerated in some (though certainly not all)

groups of the Roma I have conducted fieldwork with. I am not qualified

to make any inferences about the impact of these practices on mental

health, but there are scholars who have made them. In sum, the claim

made by the protesters that “Roma heavily research family genealogy to

ensure there is no relationship between prospective sexual partners or

marriage candidates. Relationships with close family members are

strictly taboo” may reflect some settings, but it cannot be extended to

all of Europe, let alone “the rest of the world.”

 

Since Dr. Jeszenszky is not an expert in this field, it is clearly

regrettable that he made comments that can easily lead to charges of

bigotry and racism. But since this entire controversy seems to hinge on

a single short passage in a document of limited circulation, and since

the subject he touched on has led to misunderstandings among many other

people - including the signatories of the petition - I would like to

encourage you to resist taking actions, such as the requested removal of

the text containing the offensive passage, that would violate academic

freedom. It is my understanding that Dr. Jeszenszky has already publicly

recognized the error made by using unverifiable sources, and surely

there is no need to blow this minor incident out of its proper context.

 

 

Sincerely yours,

David Scheffel

 

 

===================================

David Z. Scheffel, PhD

Professor

 

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Thompson Rivers University

Kamloops, BC

Canada, V2C 0C8

[Stoimen]

Daily Board Members of Khetanes considered it wise to draft a letter to the LIBE Committee of the European Parliament in Brussels (LIBE: Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, committee dealing with Roma issues)

On 6 November 2012 World Artists Initiative "Khetanes" sends a letter to the chair and two co-chairs of the LIBE committee, the rector of the Corvinus University and Professor David Scheffel. See the text below.

 

REACTION ON DAVID SCHEFFEL FROM KHETANES, SENT TO LIBE AND RECTOR CORVINUS UNIVERSITY:

 

International Romani Anti-Defamation League
World Artists Initiative "Khetanes"

Waterschap 90, 5345 RA Oss, Nl
Phone: [phone]
e:[e-mail]
www.khetanes.org
RISN: 850843467

 

 

 

 

NL, Oss 6 November 2012

 

Dear Members of the Committee for Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs,

­

We are writing to you in response to the letter you received from David Scheffel, professor of Anthropology at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. Contrary to Dr. Scheffel’s analysis of our original letter, we did not “misunderstand” Dr. Jeszenszky’s comments nor the scope and reach of the paragraph, chapter, or book in which these comments were contained.

In his letter Dr. Scheffel argues that “as a long-time researcher of sexual relations and marriage practices found among rural Roma in eastern Slovakia” he supports the claims of consanguinity to which Dr. Jeszenszky alludes in his outrageous textbook chapter on the Roma of Hungary.

Despite stating that his own research into the marriage and sexual relations of Slovak Roma supports these claims (research that is conspicuously absent from research and journal database searches), Dr. Scheffel fails to provide a solid argument in their defense. This is not surprising: Many of these so-called “scholarly sources” display archaic, judgmental, and paternalistic attitudes to the Roma that would be considered unacceptable if used with regard to other minority populations. The days when there were no Roma scholars available to counter such misapplications of research are gone.

According to current biomedical research, genetic mutations that appear to be a novel occurrence in single Roma families could in fact be an indication of a common problem affecting large numbers of individuals. The current emphasis placed on consanguinity in such families displaces the focus from a glaringly obvious need for public health intervention to patterns of personal behaviour. Unfortunately, this personal or familial behaviour is grossly misrepresented due to the fact that Roma families in such studies are classified according to the political boundaries of Europe and not in regards to the traditional social organization and self-identity of the Roma. In the face of reported genetic mutations (affecting physical or mental health), consanguinity is no more relevant than it would be in non-Roma populations residing throughout Europe.

In fact, linguistic and socio-cultural differences regarding family stratification are rarely taken into account. For example, the word “cousin” in  Romani does not simply refer to the child of a parent’s sibling, just as the words “brother” and “sister” do not only refer to one’s own siblings.

Far from acceding to Dr. Scheffel’s superior knowledge, we reject his suggestion that we are misinformed and suggest that the reverse is actually true.

As Dr. Scheffel states, Dr. Jeszenszky is not an expert in this field and therefore it is even more pressing that these remarks be removed from circulation. Academic freedom does not mean the freedom to author or teach racist, defamatory, and bigoted material without reproach or regard to academic standards, ethics, and integrity. Indeed, to allow such material to remain in circulation runs the risk of misinforming future researchers as well as generations of students, thus perpetuating stereotypes without proof.

Since, contrary to Dr. Scheffel’s analysis “this entire controversy” does not hinge on “a single short passage in a document of limited circulation” but rather on the characterization of an entire group of people, our original demands still remain:

The immediate removal of this offensive material from the shelves and bookstores at Corvinus University and anywhere else it is sold or presented, as well as for Dr. Jeszenszky to be held officially accountable for his damaging actions.
 

Yours,

 

 

Els de Groen, writer, poet, former MEP, Main Board Khetanes, Netherlands

Dr. Ian Hancock, writer, linguist, historian, Main Board Khetanes, USA

Paul Rafferty, journalist, secretary Main Board Khetanes, USA/Netherlands

Ciuin Ferrin, Educational Editor, O Porrajmos Education Society, Daily Board MemberKhetanes, USA

Niko Rergo, researcher, lawyer, writer, university teacher, Daily Board Member KhetanesUkraine

Lukás Houdek, photographer, Daily Board Member Khetanes, Czech Republic

Zoran Tairovic, multimedia artist, painter, master of management in culture, Daily Board member Khetanes, Serbia

Anouk Sluizer, filmmaker, Daily Board Member Khetanes, Netherlands

Cristina Barzi, actress, singer, performer, Daily Board Member Khetanes, Italy

Valery Novoselsky, Executive Editor Roma Virtual Network, Daily Board Member Khetanes, Israel

Roxana Marin, President Center for Action and Responsibility in Education, Bucharest, Daily Board Member Khetanes, Romania

Eszter Pasztor, project manager Bódvalenke Fresco Village, Daily Board Member Khetanes, Hungary

Viola Hinz-Razavi, psychologist and artist, Daily Board Member Khetanes, Germany

Glenda Bailey-Mershon, writer, historian, Romani Rights Activist, Daily Board Member Khetanes, USA

Lynn Hutchingson Lee, artist, Daily Board Member, Khetanes, Canada

Alexandra Beaujard, musician and artistic director of NADARA Gypsy Band, founder of Asociatia Culturala NADARA in Romania, founder of Culture EST in France, Daily Board Member Khetanes

Qristina Cummings, writer, photographer, coordinator International Romani Anti-Defamation League of Khetanes, Media and Public Communications Director, O Porrajmos Education Society, USA

Yvonne Slee, author, activist and president of Roma Sinti United Community Association of Queensland INC, Australia

Chad Evans Wyatt, Professional Photographer, owner Professional Photography Business, USA

Tini Chris, musician, artist, reporter, Hungary

Inma Guiu, Multimedia Producer and Journalist, Owner VGMediaConsulting, Romania

Agnes Daroczi, Minority Researcher, Hungary

Moris Farhi, writer, UK

Adam Dinu, writer, journalist, translator, President of ASPER (Association For a Performant Society), Bucharest, Romania

Jeannette Gregori, teacher at Marc Bloch Highschool (Strasbourg) and photographer, France

Patricia Ter Heun, investments professional, artist and dancer, Canada

Gordana Radulovic, Romologist and project writer, Serbia

H.U Ellenberger, Chemical Engineer, translator, Lucigano (AR), Italy

Miomirka Mila Melank, Communication designer, working at Design Association ULUPUBIH, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Kujtim Pacaku, academic, branch of musicology, poet, actor and journalist, Kosovo

Katjusha Kozubek, artists, director of Romani Dance School, Berlin, Germany

Tina Burbank, educational consult and artist, Canada

Riza Laha, poet, writer, Albania

Mónica Santos Carrilo, human rights activist, Spain

Ronald Lee, author and lecturer, vice-chairman Board of Directors Roma Community Centre, Toronto, Canada

Wlavira Turczineck, teacher of dance, Brazil

Martin Kaneko, Teacher at the Japan Women's University, Japan

Zuzana Brejcha, film maker, Austria

Kerstin König, economist, Germany

Hasiba Dzemajli, social worker, translator, human rights activist, Kosovo

Tunde Buzetzky, facilitator Decade of Roma Inclusion Secretariat Foundation, Hungary

Dr. H.C. Mariella Mehr, writer, Lucignano (AR), Italy

William Lazarus Bila, Roma Rights activist, France

Anna Marie Stenberg, writer, Canada

Roberto Malini, poet, writer, co-president EveryOne Group, Italy

Dario Picciau, movie director, member of the Executive Board of The International Academy of Digital Art and Sciences, Director White Mouse Publishing, Co-President EveryOne Group, Italy

Steed Gamero, photographer, Co-President EveryOne Group, Italy

Fabio Patronelli, artist, Co-President EveryOne Group, Italy

Yannick Pirod, president of the French cultural Association E-Media Concept, sea captain, France

Bob Kozak, musician, owner of KORO Entertainment, Canada

Hristo Kyuchukov, academic, writer, Free University Berlin, Germany; St Elizabeth University Bratislava, Slovakia

Peter Jorna, Consultancy Social Inclusion, Roma & Sinti Issues 'at Home and Abroad', Netherlands

Emma Patchett, PhD, Candidate in Contemporary Romani Literature, University of Münster, Germany

 

 

[Stoimen]

FIRST ANSWER FROM PROF. JESZENSZKY TO KHETANES:

 

On 5 November 2012 World Artists Initiative "Khetanes" receives a reply from Professor and Ambassador Géza Jeszenszky. See below:

Géza JESZENSZKY

e-mail: [e-mail]

5 November 2012

International  Romani Anti-Defamation League

World Artists Initiative “Khetanes”

Dear All, who signed your letter of protest,

Thank you for your letter.

Attached you’ll find my answer to Péter Molnár et al., who apparently started a campaign criticizing one sentence in my 431 page long book. My letter should answer almost all your concerns.

Referring specifically to your charges (sent in a somewhat faulty automatic Hungarian translation – I appreciate the effort to use my mother tongue) I assure you that my course on the serious mistreatment of national minorities over the world, taught between 2002 and 2010, mentioning the Roma problem only in the last two years, was not an obligatory course at Corvinus University, consequently it is not required  reading  at the University – in no course. (You were obviously misled on that, too.)

The charge of racism in connection with me, given my record,  would be ridiculous were it not deeply offensive. For that I do not blame you, but you should blame your informants.

An impressive number of people wrote me letters, private or meant for the public, too, supporting my person and often also my chapter dealing with the plight of the Roma in and outside of Hungary. For your information see below one,  addressed to the Oslo Holocaust Centre, and another (in the original Hungarian), written by one of the foremost Hungarian Roma sociologists.

I ask you to circulate my answer among all who signed your letter.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Géza Jeszenszky

Professor in the History of International Relations

Foreign Minister, 1990-94;
Ambassador to the United States, 1998-2002; to Norway and Iceland, 2011-

 

Appendices

 

Ms. Guri Hjeltnes
Director, the Center for Studies of Holocaust and Religious Minorities, Oslo, Norway

Mr. Anton Weiss-Wendt
Senior Researcher

 [e-mail]

November 1, 2012

Dear Ms. Hjeltnes and Mr. Weiss-Wendt:

We the undersigned István Deák, Charles Gati, and András Simonyi wish to express our concern over the unjustified accusations raised against Hungarian Ambassador and Professor Géza Jeszenszky as well as your somewhat astonishing decision to exclude him from a conference which he himself had proposed and had helped to organize.  We understand that the main issue is a disputed sentence in a textbook that Géza Jeszenszky put together for his students at a university in Budapest; we admit that the sentence might be open to diverse interpretations, but we feel that no one should be condemned without consultation and on account of a single sentence in a large book; especially not someone who has proven during his long professorial and diplomatic career that he is free of any racial or ethnic prejudice.  Géza Jeszenszky has always made great efforts to prove in Hungary, where anti-Semitism is quite strong, that people should not be discriminated against on any account. As his academic colleagues and as persons who have known Géza for many years, we urge you to circulate our letter among your colleagues as well as to invite Géza for a conversation in order to hear his views.

Please note, finally, that all three of us had lost close relatives in the Holocaust. 

Sincerely yours,   

Charles Gati , Professorial Lecturer, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Washington, D.C.

András Simonyi, SAIS, Johns Hopkins University; Former Hungarian Ambassador to the United States

István Deák, Seth Low Professor Emeritus of History, Columbia University in New York City

 

Aljasságnak tartja a Jeszenszky Géza oslói nagykövet elleni támadásokat Forgács István. A független romaügyi szakértő szerint ugyanis vannak olyan elmaradott települései az országnak, ahol előfordul a volt külügyminiszter által említett rokonházasság, de az nem általános. Hangsúlyozta: Jeszenszky Gézát ennek kimondásáért nem lehet rasszistának nevezni; az általa írt angol nyelvű egyetemi jegyzet romákkal foglalkozó részét pedig az egyik legjobb munkának tartja a témában.

 

[Stoimen]

SECOND ANSWER FROM PROF. JESZENSZKY TO KHETANES:

 

On 6 November 2012 World Artists Initiative "Khetanes" receives an additional answer from Professor Jeszenszky, see below:

Dear Sirs,

 

Yesterday I was in a great rush and I did not attach the promised letter I

had sent in answering Mr. Molnár's letter, which initiated the whole

controversy.

 

To reiterate my position on the issue, which I had an opportunity to

express in several interviews in the Hungarian media.

 

I am the opponent of any discrimination, and I have always been teaching in

that spirit. The chapter on the Roma in my book is an objective

presentation of their situation, acclaimed by Roma experts and politicians.

Looking more into the phenomenon of Roma or non-Roma babies born with

physical or mental defects a correlation with inbreeding and union between

close relatives has been established. Sexual relatiosn between brothers and

sisters is probably very rare among the Roma, too. If anyone, Roma or

nonm-Roma, felt being hurt by one sentence in my book, I regret it, it was

certainly non-intentional.

 

Finally below you'll find reports from Bulgaria, sent to me by several

people, which speaks about what must be a real problem, there and

elsewhere. It is primarily in the interest of Roma people, that healthy

babies were born in there families.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Géza Jeszenszky

 

 

 

WorldNews.com 2008-05-21: World News Correspondent Vlad Jecan -

[e-mail]

Nearly five per cent of all newborn babies, about 3,500 a year, present

genetic diseases, as a Bulgarian scientists points out at a conference in

Albena, Bulgaria.

 

Ivo Kreminski, head of the National Genetic Laboratory and Head of the

Center for Molecular Medicine, said during a health conference called

"Bridge to the Future" that a significant part of newborns in Bulgaria

suffer malformations. Most are inherited diseases.

 

Amongst the total population of Bulgaria, a number of nearly 1000 people

live with genetically inherited diseases. Almost 420 children per year

present chromosome mutations, from which the vast majority have inherited

this disease from parents with malformation or chromosomal dysfunctions.

 

The conference held in the coastal town of Albena has also announced that a

National Genetic Program will be initiated and expected to run over a

period of five years from 2009 to 2013. A total of 21 million BGN will be

spent on the program which focuses on all newborns in Bulgaria.

 

Roma people are the second largest minority in Bulgaria. Most living in

Plovdiv Province and in the Sliven Province, located in central Bulgaria.

The original place from where they migrated to Europe is problematic, but

researchers now agree that the Roma, Rromani or "gypsies" have their roots

in Northern India.

 

Rromani beliefs and culture often indicate practices also present in the

Hindu culture, with some original differences. The traditional Roma people

add high importance to the extended family principle. One cultural aspect

that represents a problem in many European countries is practicing of child

marriage. In many cases children of no more than 12 years old are getting

ready for a married life, this custom came in conflict with European laws

and Child Protection policies.

 

Ivo Kreminski points out that the number of genetic diseases has increased

among Roma people mainly because of incestuous relations. The Roma newborns

represent a high per cent of the total of children born in Bulgaria in the

last years. The National Genetic Program will focus on all newborns,

families with genetic diseases and pregnant women as well as on families in

which there is one or more cases of genetic disease. Not to be ignored are

also families with incestuous incidents.

 

The program emphasizes the need to take control over the situation and

offer proper treatment to people with genetic diseases. According to expert

opinion, the National Genetic Program will offer proper medical

examinations in this matter to over 70,000 newborns every year.

 

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

 

Refugee Women’s Resource Project, Asylum Aid  March 2002

Romani Women from Central and Eastern  Europe:

A ‘Fourth World’, or Experience of Multiple Discrimination

 

(Asylum Aid was founded in 1990 to provide desperately-needed legal

representation to those fleeing persecution abroad).

 

……PART IV  DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ABUSE AGAINST ROMANI  WOMEN

 

……IV.1.3 Incest and sexual assault  Information on the prevalence of

incest is very limited.  Zorica Mrsevic in her role as a volunteer for SOS

Hotline and the Autonomous Women’s Center against Sexual Violence

in Belgrade, came across a number of cases.  On the subject, she

writes: ‘another aspect of family violence is incest, which is believed to

happen more frequently among Gypsies than among other groups’.70

 

Zorica Mrsevic illustrates the phenomenon through the testimonies she

collected:

‘An enraged mother explained her reaction: “He did everything he

wanted to me: cut me with the knife, burnt me with cigarettes and

beat me as if I was an animal. But when he came after my oldest

daughter (…) I grabbed the knife, the biggest we had in the house,

and told him to go out of my house and never return.  This is something

Gypsy women rarely say to their men”’.

A woman also testified about her childhood experience: ‘when I was

ten years old my father replaced my mother with me, explaining that

she was too ugly and too old for him and couldn’t satisfy his needs’.

Another woman reported being abused by her brother: ‘it all started

when I was three and finally stopped when I was ten – when he was

sixteen and got married’.

The phenomenon seemed to be common in her community so she did

not find it ‘abnormal’: ‘Similar things were happening to a couple of

friends in the yards where we lived, so I figured it was just part of

growing up.  Boys were expected to be experienced before marriage,

but where could they find available girls?  Sisters were the solution to

the problem’.

[Stoimen]

ATTACHED 1 OCT. LETTER IN SECOND ANSWER FROM PROF. JESZENSZKY TO KHETANES:

 

 

Answer by Professor and Ambassador Jeszensky on 1 October 2012 to Peter Molnár, who drafted the first letter of protest, co-signed by Ian Hancock and Frank Mugisha, all three RAFTO laureates. See below:

 

From the Ambassador

 

1 October 2012

 

Peter Molnár et al.

 

Dear Sirs,

 

Your open letter - whether that was you intention or not - had a snowball effect in Hungary, that's why I had no time to give you an answer earlier.

 

However critical your remarks were,  you rightly assumed that I do not hold racist views and it was not my intention to hurt the feelings of anyone, last those of my Roma countrymen. Unlike most of the people who became part of a vicious campaign of character assassination directed at my person, you must have read if not my whole book, which exposed the world-wide issue of the mistreatment of national and ethnic minorities, but at least chapter or theme 9, presenting the issue of "Minorities in Hungary." As you must have noticed, it was a relatively detailed summary of the history and the present plight of the Roma in and around Hungary. The aim was to inform my students about the facts of the Roma problem, as well as the difficulties even the most well-meaning individual and authorities face when trying to improve the lot of the Roma. To take one sentence out of the context of the whole chapter (and indeed of the whole book) and to condemn the author solely on that basis, is - in my opinion- wrong both scholarly and morally.

 

What pains me far more than the unfair campaign is the most likely effect it has on reconciliation between the victims (more properly the descendants of the victims) of the Shoa and the rest of Hungarian society. Those who know how much I have always been committed to fight anti-Semitism (and wrote in that vein), are perplexed seeing the campaign being exported even to Norway, where I work for the benefit of both countries. The reaction of the real racists is Schadefreu, gratification that the friend of the Jews is now attacked, which serves him well.

 

As to the sentence in question, it did not refer particularly to the Hungarian Roma, it referred to a sad phenomenon, Roma babies born with mental or physical disorders, likely due to consanguinity,  union between close relatives. I read about that in several publications, scholarly, scientific as well as journalistic type. One abstract in the British journal Lancet, another in the  Journal of Medical Genetics describes such  cases. Hungarian scholarly writings, like Tanulmányok a romológia köréből (http://mek.oszk.hu/02000/02048/02048.pdf), also brings up such evidence.

 

You may not know that my Post-Communist Europe and Its National/Ethnic Problems was a private edition, a Coursepack for students who elected to take up my non-obligatory course. Now serving abroad my course has not been available for more than two years. The book was never on sale in bookshops, not even in the bookshop of Corvinus University. If the subject were taught again or if the book were translated into Hungarian I would gladly change the wording to make it absolutely clear what I mean and what I do not mean. In the hope that you are interested not only in the rights and well-being of the millions of Roma but as much in the fate and future of the hundreds of  millions of ill-treated national and religious minorities all over the world, let me offer you my book as recommended reading.

 

 

Yours sincerely

Géza Jeszenszky

Appendix

Lancet. 1987 Aug 15;2(8555):377-9.

Disease, lifestyle, and consanguinity in 58 American Gypsies.

Thomas JD, Doucette MM, Thomas DC, Stoeckle JD.

Abstract

Medical data on 58 Gypsies in the area of Boston, Massachusetts, were analysed together with a pedigree linking 39 of them in a large extended kindred. Hypertension was found in 73%, diabetes in 46%, hypertriglyceridaemia in 80%, hypercholesterolaemia in 67%, occlusive vascular disease in 39%, and chronic renal insufficiency in 20%. 86% smoked cigarettes and 84% were obese. Thirteen of twenty-one marriages were consanguineous, yielding an inbreeding coefficient of 0.017. The analysis suggests that both heredity and environment influence the striking pattern of vascular disease in American Gypsies.

Genetic study of Welsh gypsies.

E M Williams, P R Harper

Journal of Medical Genetics (impact factor: 6.37). 07/1977; 14(3):172-6.

Abstract

A South Wales gypsy kindred of Romany origin had a high incidence of phenylketonuria along with other recessively inherited disorders. There was a high degree of consanguinity (F = 0-017) with an excess of non-specific mental subnormality among known consanguineous matings. Phenylketonuria and a number of other recessively inherited disorders have been recorded from other Romany gypsy populations, but it is uncertain whether this results from a generally high gene frequency for the disorders or from consanguinity and other more local factors.

Source: PubMed

 

 

 

[Omar Bhatia]

Hi Els, put me on it too! Omar Zingaro Bhatia / Artist & Environmental Field Teacher / Scotland

[Omar Bhatia]

Whoops just realised I'm too late. I'll email Mr Jeszenszky myself. 

[Omar Bhatia]

I don't swallow his replies. He's trying to dig himself out of a hole which he dug, knowing full well what he was implying. 

[Stoimen]

Dear Omar and other members who react through e-mail,

Currently we are drafting a reaction to Prof. G. Jeszenszky's replies. This text will be published here too.

The other pages from the chapter, including page 273, will also soon be published on this site.

Thank you for the great interest!

Els