Possible Recognition of the Yenish as a National Minority
Berlin, January 22, 2025 (hib) – The Federal Government is considering recognizing the Yenish as a national minority. This was announced by the Federal Commissioner for Integration, Ms. Lamia Abbas, in the Bundestag (German Parliament) on Thursday.
Abbas emphasized that the Yenish have a long history and culture in Germany. “They have been discriminated against and marginalized for centuries,” she said. “Recognition as a national minority would be an important step towards ending this discrimination and giving the Yenish the same rights as other national minorities in Germany.”
The Yenish are a nomadic people of Romani origin who have been living in Germany for centuries. They are estimated to number around 40,000 people in the country. They have their own language, culture, and traditions.
The recognition of the Yenish as a national minority would have several implications:
- They would be entitled to receive funding from the Federal Government to support their culture and language.
- They would be represented on the German National Council for National Minorities (GNRNM).
- They would have the right to use their own language in education and public life.
The Federal Government is currently in the process of consulting with the Yenish community and other stakeholders to determine whether the criteria for recognition as a national minority are met. A decision is expected to be made in the coming months.
Background
The Yenish have been living in Germany since the 15th century. They are descended from Romani people who migrated from India to Europe in the Middle Ages. The Yenish have traditionally been nomadic, but many have settled in recent years.
The Yenish have faced discrimination and persecution throughout their history. They were often accused of being thieves and vagrants. In the 19th and 20th centuries, they were subjected to forced assimilation policies by the German government.
After the Second World War, the Yenish were recognized as a separate ethnic group in Germany. However, they were not given the same rights as other national minorities.
In recent years, there has been growing support for recognizing the Yenish as a national minority. In 2020, the German Bundestag passed a resolution calling on the Federal Government to recognize the Yenish.
Implications
The recognition of the Yenish as a national minority would be a significant step towards ending centuries of discrimination and marginalization. It would also send a clear message that Germany is committed to protecting the rights of all its citizens, regardless of their background.
The recognition would have a number of practical implications for the Yenish community. They would be entitled to receive funding from the Federal Government to support their culture and language. They would also be represented on the German National Council for National Minorities (GNRNM).
In addition, the recognition would give the Yenish the right to use their own language in education and public life. This would help to ensure that their culture and traditions continue to be passed down to future generations.
Etwaige Anerkennung der Jenischen als nationale Minderheit
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