Slovak Republic: Information on the situation of Jewish persons in the Slovak Republic; state protection available in the case of attacks from skinheads (update to SLK18324.E of 19 September 1994)
| Publisher | Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 28 April 2003 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SLK41360.E |
| Reference | 4 |
| Cite as | Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Slovak Republic: Information on the situation of Jewish persons in the Slovak Republic; state protection available in the case of attacks from skinheads (update to SLK18324.E of 19 September 1994), 28 April 2003, SLK41360.E, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4e190.html [accessed 23 May 2013] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Article 12 of the Constitution of the Slovak Republic, adopted 3 September 1992, states that the Slovak Republic guarantees the fundamental rights of every person regardless of religion (Slovak Republic 3 Sept. 1992). Article 24(1) states that "[f]reedom of thought, conscience, religion and faith shall be guaranteed (ibid). Further, Article 24(2) states that "[e]very person shall have the right to express freely his or her own religious conviction or faith alone or in association with others, privately or publicly, by worship, religious services or ceremonies and participation in religious instruction" (ibid.).
The U.S. Department of State's 2002 International Religious Freedom Report states that the Slovak government "generally" respects the Constitution's provision for freedom of religion and "does not tolerate its abuse, either by government or private actors" (7 Oct. 2002, Sec. 2). The report further states that, although there is a "generally amicable relationship among religions," anti-Semitism can be found in parts of the Republic (ibid., Sec. 3). According to Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001, "[a]nti-Semitism persists among some elements of the population" (4 Mar. 2002). The report also states that "the official Slovak cultural organization Matica Slovenska continued their efforts to rehabilitate the historical reputation of Jozef Tiso, the leader of the Nazi-collaborationist wartime Slovak state" (Country Reports 2001 4 Mar. 2002). On 14 March 2001, the Slovak National Unity (SNU) party held a rally celebrating the founding of the wartime Slovak state that was attended by "a number of skinheads" (ibid).
An October 2002 report on the AntiSemitism and Xenophobia Today (AXT) Website provides examples of recent incidents of anti-Semitism in the Slovak Republic. These include:
– "provocative remarks and gestures" by skinheads to a crowd of Jews during a Hanukkah ceremony in December 1999 (AXT Oct. 2002),
– between June 2000 and July 2001, the desecration of Jewish cemeteries in Dunajska Streda, Levice, and Vranov nad Tplou (ibid.; Country Reports 2001 4 Mar. 2002) and in Zvolen (ibid.; HRW 2002; AXT Oct. 2002),
– the spray painting of swastikas and the inscription '"Juden Raus' (Jews Out)" on a building in Kosice in October 2001 (ibid.; HRW 2002).
According to a 2000 Human Rights Watch (HRW) report on Slovakia, "[p]olice and local officials failed to curb attacks and harassment by skinhead groups against Roma and other ethnic minorities". The report further states that the "[p]rosecution of skinhead crimes remained lax, and judges refused to convict perpetrators under racially motivated crimes statutes" (HRW 2000). Amnesty International, in a 2001 "Concerns in Europe" report, states that the United Nations Committee Against Torture expressed concerns over "police participation in attacks on Roma and other members of the population, as well as allegations of inaction by police and law enforcement officials who fail to provide adequate protection against racially motivated attacks when such groups have been threatened by 'skinheads' or other extremist groups" (AI 1 Sept. 2001). The Committee also expressed concern regarding the Slovak authorities failure to investigate such allegations and to prosecute the perpetrators (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Amnesty International (AI).1 September 2001. "Concerns in Europe January-June 2001." (AI index: EUR 01/003/2001) AntiSemitism and Xenophobia Today (AXT). October 2002. "Slovak Republic." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2001. 4 March 2002. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. Human Rights Watch (HRW). 2002. Human Rights Watch World Report
2002. ______. 2000. Human Rights Watch World Report 2000.
International Religious Freedom Report 2002. 7 October 2002. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. Slovak Republic. 3 September 1992. Government Office of the Slovak Republic. The Constitution of the Slovak Republic. Additional Sources Consulted
IRB Databases
Internet sites, including:
Human Rights Internet
Search engine:
Google
