Samanta Selimovic: Antigypsyism in Sweden and Romani Interventions

The European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) is releasing the masterclass "Antigypsyism in Sweden and Romani Interventions", with Samanta Selimovic, based on a research paper authored by Samanta Selimovic and Jan Selling, produced in the framework of the project Reclaiming Our Past, Rebuilding Our Future: New Approaches to Fighting Antigypsyism (JEKHIPE). This masterclass, led by Samanta Selimovic, provides a critical examination of the five-century history of the Roma in Sweden, moving from the violent 1637 expulsion decrees to the 2013 illegal police registration. By blending academic research with lived experience as a Roma and Muslim woman, Selimovic exposes "antigypsyism" not merely as a prejudice, but as a systemic structure embedded within the Swedish welfare state. The session highlights how historical "humanitarian" policies often masked forced sterilization and cultural erasure, ultimately arguing that genuine inclusion fails when it is designed for Roma rather than with them. Shifting from systemic exclusion to "artivism," the session explores how pioneers like the Taikon sisters and contemporary figures like Soraya Post and Lindy Larsson reclaim Roma identity through politics and performance. After noting the influence of the post-Yugoslavia diaspora and women’s leadership, the session concludes by analyzing the "state-dependency dilemma": the tension between requiring public funding and maintaining activist independence against rising populism. Ultimately, the masterclass calls for structural reform and collective memory to ensure Sweden’s 2032 equality goals are met through active participation rather than passive assimilation. The masterclass is available with English and Romani subtitles. Please note that, due to a limitation in YouTube’s subtitle interface, the Romani subtitles are currently listed as Romanian. Stay informed: Explore the latest episodes of the JEKHIPE Masterclass series. Fernando Ruiz Molina: Anti-Gypsyism, Resistance & Cultural Memory: A Critical Perspective from Spain |    • Fernando Ruiz Molina: Anti-Gypsyism, Resis...   Antigypsyism in Italy through the History of the Roma Civil Rights Movement with Federica Scrimieri |    • Federica Scrimieri: Antigypsyism in Italy ...   The Construction and Deconstruction of a Roma Hero in the Romanian History with Adrian-Nicolae Furtună |    • Adrian-Nicolae Furtună: The Construction a...   JEKHIPE is a European Commission-funded initiative (CERV) led by ERGO Network, ERIAC, and CEPS, in collaboration with national partners: Slovo 21 (Czechia), Central Council for German Sinti and Roma (Germany), UCRI and Romni (Italy), Amare Romentza (Romania), FAGiC and Romane Siklovne (Spain), and Trajosko Drom (Sweden). Together, these organizations address historical injustices, such as the lack of recognition for the Roma Holocaust and slavery, while promoting institutional representation in arts and education. By engaging policy-makers and grassroots communities, JEKHIPE seeks to contribute to the establishing of clear mechanisms for governmental accountability across Europe. #JEKHIPE #ReclaimingOurPast #RebuildingOurFuture #CERV #FightingAntigypsyism #RomaRights #historicaljustice