Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed over 10,000 Roma individuals at a gathering in Istanbul, stating "You are Roma, you are human, you are my brothers." During his speech, two young people who displayed a "Free Education" banner were detained. Roma communities requested the end of discrimination, to which Erdoğan responded with a promise to provide homes with affordable monthly payments of 100-120 TL.
Speaking at the Istanbul Abdi İpekçi sports hall, Erdoğan acknowledged the hardships faced by the Roma community, saying, "We are aware of your troubles and issues."
He reminisced about his upbringing in the same neighborhoods as the Roma, emphasizing, "Whatever they say, you are Roma, which means you are human, you are my brothers."
Erdoğan declared, "This spring will be a time when pains are soothed, grievances mended, and rifts healed," and noted the state's efforts to include Roma individuals in government positions by breaking the barriers of prejudice.
Roma Demand End to Discrimination; Erdoğan Promises Affordable Housing
The concrete promise made by Erdoğan was the sale of housing units constructed by the Housing Development Administration (TOKİ) with affordable installment plans:
"I no longer want to see my Roma brothers living in tents or makeshift structures. We will build these housing units for you in various locations and offer them with no down payment, 100-120 TL monthly installments over 20 years."
Erdoğan announced the start of construction for 3,408 housing units in Bursa Karacabey, Edirne, Keşan, Sakarya, Afyon Dinar, Balıkesir Bandırma, Bursa Mustafakemalpaşa, Eskişehir city center, Kütahya Altıntaş and Tavşanlı, and Tekirdağ city center and Aydoğdu.
According to a report by Serkan Ocak from Radikal, Roma individuals who were forced to leave Selendi after a racist attack attended the event with a banner reading "Racist Selendi" and expressed that their damages had not been compensated.
While Roma communities called for an end to discrimination, better living conditions, and employment opportunities, Vesile Yanar stated, "We are struggling. Erdoğan became Prime Minister with our votes. He forgot us, but now he remembers because elections are approaching."
Gökmen Dunar, President of the Izmir Roma Horse Carriage Culture Association, highlighted ongoing discrimination, saying, "We want to participate in social life and seek equality. We are not even second class, we are third class. The police still see us as potential criminals."
Arus: We Want to Live with Dignity
Elmas Arus, President of the Zero Discrimination Association, stated, "We want to live under humane conditions in our neighborhoods. We are here to demand social improvements, health insurance, jobs, and education. We also want good things for our brothers around the world."
Arus addressed journalists:
"We are here so that our children can say, 'I will be a doctor, engineer, police officer, teacher, historian, professor, even Prime Minister' when they grow up, just like your children. Report not just that we danced, but also our desire for better futures. Write that we have dreams too, and that we also feel pain."
"Free Education" Protest Leads to Detention
During Erdoğan's speech, two young people were detained for displaying a banner that read "We want free education."
After Erdoğan's speech, Kibariye performed a concert and remarked, "Prime Minister, you are a top-notch man." (TK)
Source: Bianet
http://www.bianet.org/bianet/siyaset/120662-erdogan-in-roman-acilimi-taksitle-toki-evleri
