Slovak MEP condemns brutal murder in Ireland and the principle of collective blame against Roma

MEP Peter Pollák, a Romani community member from Slovakia, has condemned the murder of a young teacher in Ireland; the suspect in the case is apparently of Romani origin and a Slovak citizen. Pollák called the crime abominable and simultaneously condemned the principle of collective blame appearing in discussions online associating the brutal murder with Romani people as a whole.

Several days ago the brutal murder of 23-year-old Ashling Murphy, a schoolteacher from Tullamore, shocked Ireland. The Irish Police have detained a 31-year-old Slovak citizen who has long resided in the country in connection with the murder.

When the young teacher at a local school went for a run last Wednesday, somebody assaulted her and strangled her to death. Pollák has posted a video online in response to the news with this message: “Dear friends, just as I condemned the aggression in Važec, just as I condemned the murder in Dobšina, just as I condemned the murder of the poor journalist Jan Kuciak and Martina Kušnírová, or as I condemned the murder committed by Josef Király, a close friend of Mazurek, I condemn the abominable act that happened a few days ago in Ireland.” 

“After reading the various commentaries associating all Roma with this abominable crime, I also thoroughly condemn the collective blame resounding in those posts,” the MEP added, reminding the public that collective blame cost people their lives during the Second World War. “I want to call on you all to condemn the crime committed by the aggressive criminal in Ireland. Likewise, I want to ask you all to also condemn the collective blame that has been resounding in recent days in the online comments responding to articles about the crime committed by the aggressor in Ireland.”