RACIST VIOLENCE IN 15 EU MEMBER STATES - Cospe

RACIST VIOLENCE IN 15 EU MEMBER STATES - A Comparative Overview of Findings from the RAXEN NFP Reports 2001-2004
12.3. POLITICAL, CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND POLICY
DEVELOPMENTS
RAXEN 4 reports that, in general, 'visible' acts of racist violence are rare or nonexistent
in Luxembourg when compared with its neighbouring countries. Instead,
racism manifests itself in Luxembourg in more subtle ways, as evidenced by
residents' opinions from various social surveys. However, the absence of data on
racist violence does not allow a full picture of the situation in Luxembourg to
emerge.
With respect to the relationship between the authorities and members of minority
communities, RAXEN 4 refers to 'incidents' which took place in 2003 between the
Luxembourg police force and the Muslim community.
The 'incidents' in question refer to police raids, which were carried out on 31st
March 2003 as part of a criminal investigation into the activities of people
suspected of engaging in an international 'Islamist' network. According to media
reports related in RAXEN 4, one of the raids was against the home of a family of
asylum seekers from Montenegro, during the course of which the mother and some
of the children were forcefully restrained. RAXEN 4 reports that the number of
'victims' of these raids, who were not charged with any offence, is not known. The
force used in the course of these raids was criticised by Amnesty International, and
RAXEN 4 reports that the incidents triggered a broad discussion among the
population, the government and NGOs - although no follow-up is referred to.
Public concern was also raised in the aftermath of two unrelated violent murders
that took place in 2000 and 2002, and which involved minorities. Both incidents
resulted in concerted action among those directly and indirectly affected, and
indicated the willingness of different communities to act against displays of
violence and inter-community violence. Specifically, the 2000 incident involved a
Yugoslav offender, and resulted in the murder victim's parents collecting 15,000
signatures in an appeal 'Against Increasing Violence'. The 2002 incident, although
not expressly found to be a racist act, involved the killing of a young black man,
Spencer, as a result of an argument outside a club. In the aftermath of his death, the
'Spencer Committee' was founded by the Federation of Cape Verde Associations
with the aim of strengthening the integration of young Cape Verde islanders into
Luxembourg society, and of promoting non-violence among young people.
While RAXEN 4 does not report on any initiatives that directly address racist
violence, it refers to a range of initiatives that variously address aspects of
multiculturalism and the needs and rights of migrants/asylum seekers. A number of
initiatives are specifically addressed at young people. One project - 'Quinzaine
Caritas against Violence' - approaches the subject of violence in different and
abnormal contexts, and includes educational material about prejudice,
discrimination and scapegoating.
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