The Macedonian
authorities racially profile their citizens who are trying to leave the country
and stop Roma from leaving. According to a court judgment delivered this week,
the Interior Ministry has to pay compensation to a Romani couple who were not
allowed to cross the border to visit their family. They are represented by the
Macedonian Young Lawyers Association, with support from the European Roma
Rights Centre.
Two years ago Mr
Muhedinov and Mrs Muhedinova were trying to visit their family in Switzerland,
traveling with their grandchildren. They were the only passengers on their bus
who were asked for anything more than their passports. The couple had all their
documents, return tickets, €2000 cash and an invitation letter. Yet they were
still forbidden to leave the country and the bus left the country without them.
Stories like this
happen to Macedonian citizens of Roma origin all the time. It happens to them
because they are Roma, a heavily discriminated community; the Macedonian
government fears that they will apply for asylum in the EU if they leave. A
judge found this couple were victims of racial discrimination and that their
constitutional right to leave the country was breached.