Announcement to the Public
On June 24-25, 2014, a visit will be made to Manisa under the leadership of the Zero Discrimination Association in order to monitor the case reflected to the public as the “Selendi Incidents” and to visit the victims.
The visit, which will be carried out within the scope of the Rodimata Project carried out by the Zero Discrimination Association in partnership with the Social Change Association, will be attended by Romani NGO representatives, human rights organization representatives, activists and lawyers.
On Tuesday, June 24, the new settlements of the Selendi victims will be visited and interviews will be held with the victims.
On Wednesday, June 25, the case to be heard at the Uşak 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance will be monitored.
The report to be prepared as a result of the visit will be shared with the public.
What Happened in Selendi?
The incidents that started with an attack on Romani people in a coffee shop on the night of January 31, 2009 in Selendi, Manisa, quickly turned into stoning of Romani people’s homes and workplaces.
On the night of January 5-6, around a thousand people attacked the 75-person Roma community, who have been living in the Selendi district of Manisa for 35 years, with slogans such as “Selendi is ours, it will remain ours”, “This is Selendi, there is no way out of here”, “Gypsies should leave here”.
Roma houses, tents and cars were burned, demolished and vandalized. The police were inadequate. The Roma were rescued by the Gendarmerie. The Roma of Selendi were displaced to the Salihli district of Manisa.
The Manisa Public Prosecutor's Office filed a lawsuit against 80 defendants who were allegedly involved in the incident, requesting a prison sentence of 3 to 150 years for the crimes of “openly inciting the public to hatred and hostility”, “damaging public property”, “damaging property”, “threatening with a weapon”, and “violating Law No. 2911 on Demonstrations and Meetings”.
It was decided that the case would be heard in Uşak due to public safety.
