From online hate to test of hate‑crime enforcement
In September 2023, the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) and Forum for Human Rights, together with a group of young volunteers known as “ROMAntici”, submitted six criminal complaints to the Presidium of the Slovak Police against individuals who had posted violent anti‑Roma comments on Facebook and YouTube. The reported posts included calls for genocide of Roma, explicit praise of Nazi ideology, and direct incitement to violence against Roma and persons with disabilities, going far beyond insulting speech into clear criminal threats. The complaints invoked specific provisions of the Slovak Criminal Code on incitement to national, racial and ethnic hatred and support for extremist movements, arguing that authorities routinely fail to apply these sections when victims are Roma. The case highlighted how antigypsyism has shifted into digital spaces while remaining rooted in long‑standing prejudice, and how Roma activists are using strategic litigation to push the police and prosecutors to treat online hate against Roma with the same seriousness as other forms of hate crime.
„The comments include promoting the genocide against the Roma, sympathising with Nazi ideology, and directly inciting hate and violence against Roma and people with disabilities.“
European Roma Rights Centre
“Young Activists Take Legal Action Against Anti‑Roma Online Hate in Slovakia”, 19 September 2023
Further Reading / Sources
European Roma Rights Centre – Young Activists Take Legal Action Against Anti‑Roma Online Hate in Slovakia
Press release on the six criminal complaints and ROMAntici initiative
Forum for Human Rights – case materials on strategic litigation against online hate in Slovakia
Background on legal arguments and Criminal Code provisions used
UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Concluding observations on Slovakia (2022), noting persistent anti‑Roma racism, hate speech, and under‑enforcement of hate‑crime provisions
ERRC – Slovakia: UN slams prevalence of anti‑Roma racism, lack of access to justice and persistence of racist hate speech and hate crimes
News item summarising CERD’s concerns
OSCE Hate Crime Reporting – Slovakia country page
Overview of recorded hate incidents and the treatment of hate speech and hate crime in national law and practice