Romania: racist attack on food courier
An attack on a Bangladeshi food courier has ignited a debate in Romania. The attacker filmed himself punching the courier in the face and telling him to go back to where he came from. A few days before the attack, the deputy leader of the far-right AUR Party, Dan Tănasă, had sent out a social media post calling for people to refuse deliveries from foreign workers.
Time for a tougher stance on hate speech
People who promote hate get off scot-free in Romania, Adevărul protests:
“Extremism, hostile attitudes and public verbal manipulation, which are even encouraged by certain members of parliament, all have consequences! Words have become deeds, hate speech has turned into violence perpetrated by Romanian citizens against innocent foreign workers! The worst thing about this is that the instigators, the public manipulators, whether they are politicians or influencers, are running rampant without being held accountable by the authorities or the law!”
We're no better than the others
Psychologist Petruț Rizea recalls in republica.ro the experience of the many Romanians who themselves emigrated:
“We've forgotten that millions of our compatriots went to work in Italy, Spain and Germany, and were treated as 'foreigners' there. We know how much contempt hurts, yet we pass it on ourselves. This is both painful and shameful: we had the chance to be better, but we didn't use it. We have schools but no education, we have freedom but no wisdom, we have the internet but no judgement. So when a politician sells hatred, he finds buyers.”