Hindus and Jews have strongly criticized the reported initiative of erection of a wall around a Roma (Gypsy) neighborhood in northern Romania, calling it a clear sign of apartheid.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed; and Rabbi Jonathan B. Freirich, prominent Jewish leader in North Carolina; in a statement in the USA today, said that erection of this concrete wall in Baia Mare town was an attempt at ghettoization, humiliation, degrading and segregation of Roma. This is clearly racism, separating Roma from the rest of the population.

“Could this be 21st century Europe?” Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, and Rabbi Freirich, asked.

Rajan Zed and Jonathan Freirich further said that the condition of Roma in Romania had most of the signs of apartheid and Romania should urgently do something of substance to stop their maltreatment. According to reports, between 1.8 and 2.5 million Roma live in Romania and about 75 per cent live in poverty.

In its annual “Human Rights Report” about Romania issued in the recent past, US Department of State said: “Roma faced persistent poverty and had poor access to government services, few employment opportunities, high rates of school attrition, inadequate health care, and pervasive discrimination.”

Zed and Freirich argued that it was now time for European Union to urgently intervene in Romania and do something “concrete and real” to improve the situation of European Roma.

Europe’s most persecuted and discriminated community, Roma reportedly regularly encountered social exclusion, racism, substandard education, hostility, joblessness, rampant illness, inadequate housing, lower life expectancy, unrest, stereotypes, mistrust, rights violations, discrimination, marginalization, appalling living conditions, prejudice, human rights abuse, to name merely a few of their horrific treatments, Rajan Zed and Rabbi Freirich pointed out.