On the night of 2 to 3 August 1944, the Nazis eliminated the “Zigeunerlager” – the Roma section of Auschwitz-Birkenau, killing almost 3000 Roma. This event is known as the most massive mass murder of Roma carried out by the Nazis during their reign of terror, which is why today, 2 August is commemorated around the world as the International Genocide of the Roma and Sinti Remembrance Day.
On the occasion of the International Genocide of the Roma and Sinti Remembrance Day, we cordially invite you to various commemorative events that will take place in Maribor and Murska Sobota.
Maribor, 30 July 2024, at 16:00 and 18:00
In Maribor, we will commemorate the victims of the genocide of the Roma and Sinti on Tuesday, 30 July 2024.The programme will start at 16:00 at the Synagogue Maribor with a lecture on “The Opportunities of Roma Cultural Heritage in Slovenia”.
At 18:00, a concert by Gipsy Groove, a band known for their energetic and charismatic performances, will follow in the Jewish Square, raising awareness about inequality and discrimination, freedom of movement, racism, women’s rights and human rights in general. The concert will begin with a solemn address by the President of the Roma Association of Slovenia, Mr Jožek Horvat Muc and an address by the President of the EPEKA Association, Mr Štefan Simončič. In case of rain, the concert will take place in the Synagogue Maribor.
Murska Sobota, 1 August 2024, at 14.00
On Thursday, 1 August, a commemorative ceremony will be held in Murska Sobota to commemorate the Roma victims of the Nazi genocide. The honourable speaker at the ceremony will be Mr Dejan Židan, State Secretary at the Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport of the Republic of Slovenia, and the audience will be also addressed by Mr Jožek Horvat Muc, President of the Roma Association of Slovenia, and Mr Marjan Šiftar, President of the Board of the Dr Šiftar Foundation. At the end of the ceremony, the fate of the Roma and Sinti during the Second World War will be discussed with the romologist Mr Jožek Horvat Muc, the President of the Union of the Associations for the Values of the National Liberation Movement of Slovenia Mr Marijan Križman, historian Dr Marjan Toš, and lawyer and researcher Dr Vera Klopčič. A cultural programme with Nina Brasseuer and friends will accompany the ceremony, as well.
The event will be held at Prekmurje Unit of the Regional Archives Maribor where the documentary exhibition “Ej, Romale. Prekmurje Roma in Image and Word” will be on display at the same time. The ceremony will begin at 14:00.
Visiting the events and the exhibition is free of charge. You are cordially invited!
Programme with events’ descriptions (in Slovenian)
Organisers of the events: Center judovske kulturne dediščine Sinagoga Maribor; Združenje EPEKA; European Roma Union; Zveza Romov Slovenije; Romani Union Murska Sobota; Inštitut za romološke študije; izobraževanje in kulturo; Mestna občina Murska Sobota; Ustanova dr. Šiftarjeva fundacija; Pokrajinski arhiv Maribor, Enota za Prekmurje.
Individual events are supported by: Mestna občina Maribor; EU programme “Creative Europe”; Ministrstvo za gospodarstvo, turizem in šport RS; Ministrstvo za kulturo RS; Svet romske skupnosti RS.
