Gaza's Gypsies Face Daily Racism

Excerpt:

The Dom are not represented in parliament or in any of the political factions or institutions. They do not benefit from the international aid sent to the Palestinian people of Gaza. It is as if where they live is invisible to the broader community and the government. Some Dom women have, therefore, begun begging in the streets, while the men find work in “fadous,” popular male-only groups who play drums and march during wedding processions.

Zein, a 40-year-old Dom, told Al-Monitor that she left Gaza at one point to spend a number of years in Jordan. She said Dom people are treated better in Jordan, although racism existed there as well. The Dom have one representative in parliament, and there are also Dom who have become doctors and engineers, unlike their situation in Gaza, where they suffer from poverty and unemployment.

Asmahan spends long hours crying alone, especially when she thinks about her father, Mohsen, now deceased. She used to love hearing him sing. He was keen to protect them from harm at all times.

“The thing I hate the most in Gaza is the look of greed on some men’s faces who think I would be easy to have since I am a Dom girl. I also hate when people describe others as Dom people as a way of insulting them. When I am in the street or the grocery store, I hear some parents telling their kids off. They say to them, ‘You Dom boy’ or ‘Why are you acting like Dom people?!’”

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/06/gaza-gypsies-dom-racism.html#ixzz2WS5DV8QD