Twenty-five Romanians who were the victims of racist intimidation in Belfast left Northern Ireland today, with 75 others due to leave later this week. The Stormont social development minister, Margaret Ritchie, confirmed earlier today that 100 of a group of 114 who had been targeted in racist attacks wanted to return to Romania. Ritchie said only 14 of the Romanians subjected to the attacks - a family of seven and seven single men - had opted to remain in Belfast.
The Stormont social development minister, Margaret Ritchie, confirmed earlier today that 100 of a group of 114 who had been targeted in racist attacks wanted to return to Romania.
Ritchie said only 14 of the Romanians subjected to the attacks - a family of seven and seven single men - had opted to remain in Belfast.
Meanwhile, the Belfast church in which the Romanians took shelter after the attacks has been vandalised. Seven windows in the Belfast City church were smashed and the front door damaged in the attack, which happened overnight.
Seven windows in the Belfast City church were smashed and the front door damaged in the attack, which happened overnight.
In a letter from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Nick Griffin, the BNP leader, was told that he had less than a month to provide written undertakings that the party would abide by race relations legislation. John Wadham, legal director of the Commission, said that the watchdog was concerned that the BNP's constitution and membership criteria could be in breach of the law. Party membership was said by the Commission to be restricted to those with white skin and a small number of other ethnic groups. In a statement, the watchdog added: "This exclusion is contrary to the Race Relations Act which the party is legally obliged to comply with. The Commission therefore thinks that the BNP may have acted, and be acting, illegally."
John Wadham, legal director of the Commission, said that the watchdog was concerned that the BNP's constitution and membership criteria could be in breach of the law.
Party membership was said by the Commission to be restricted to those with white skin and a small number of other ethnic groups.
In a statement, the watchdog added: "This exclusion is contrary to the Race Relations Act which the party is legally obliged to comply with. The Commission therefore thinks that the BNP may have acted, and be acting, illegally."
There were further concerns over the requirement on new staff to be party members, and fears that elected BNP representatives would be unwilling to provide help and support to non-white constituents. If the BNP does not provide written undertakings by July 20 that it will make the changes required by the Commission voluntarily, then the watchdog said that it would apply for a legal injunction which would compel them to comply.
If the BNP does not provide written undertakings by July 20 that it will make the changes required by the Commission voluntarily, then the watchdog said that it would apply for a legal injunction which would compel them to comply.
He tried to claim that the BNP would positively love to have ethnic minority members, but they were forced to be monoracial in order to have the protection of "European legislation". That is, acting against the BNP (by telling policemen, clergy etc that membership is incompatible with their chosen career) is, according to the BNP, racial discrimination.
I would love to see that one in court.
