Slovenia accused of turning Roma neighbourhoods into security zones'

"Slovenia's government has been accused of turning Roma neighbourhoods into security zones after the passing of a law giving police powers to raid and surveil homes in so-called high-risk areas. At midnight on Monday, the country's parliament backed the Sutar law, named after Ales Sutar, who was killed in an altercation with a 21-year-old Romany man after rushing to a nightclub following a distress call from his son. The incident outside the LokalPatriot club in Novo Mesto, in south Slovenia, last month led to a huge street protests, police being stationed in Roma neighbourhoods and the resignation of two ministers."

"The Act on Urgent Measures to Ensure Public Security, which was first introduced two weeks after Sutar's death, was watered down before the final vote on Monday, but it retained a series of controversial clauses. The police will, without a court order, be allowed to enter a property or means of transport in a security-risk area if it is unavoidably necessary for the protection of people to immediately seize firearms."

Parliament approved the Sutar law after the killing of Ales Sutar, prompting large protests, police deployments in Roma areas and two ministerial resignations. The legislation grants police powers to enter properties or vehicles without a court order in designated security-risk areas when necessary to seize firearms and permits use of technical surveillance such as drones or licence-plate recognition to protect lives or property. Security-risk zones will be geographically designated by senior police officials based on assessments. Critics label the measures discriminatory toward Roma communities and have urged examination by the European Commission.

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