One of three people "beeped" while leaving the market, and the workers jumped only on her. She is a Roma woman (VIDEO)
It is an opera singer Natasa Tasic Knezevic
Opera singer Natasa Tasic Knezevic published on Facebook that she was publicly searched in a supermarket in Novi Sad under suspicion that she stole something.
She said in the video that the supermarket is close to the Train station, and she went in to buy some cashew, but since she didn't find it she headed toward the exit where a sensor went off.
Although two more people left the store at the same time as she did, the workers stopped only her, the only Roma woman there.
- I was the only one who was asked to empty the entire bag, all the pockets, to take off the jacket, everything, and to get out. The manager said that they are still new and that the sensor is beeping. I told them: "If you asked me to take everything from my backpack - and I have nothing but my notes, books, and my wallet, which they saw in the end - why didn't you ask those other people who passed by me to come back and to take everything out - said Tasic Knezevic.
She said that the manager of the supermarket apologized, but the certain people present had remarked that they know why was she being searched, alluding to her nationality.
Natasa Tasic Knezevic is a soprano, soloist of the Opera of the Serbian National Theater in Novi Sad, and in 2012, the OSCE declared her one of the most prominent Roma women in the world.
Mihajlovic: "Scandalous and for condemnation"
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and President of the Gender Equality Coordination Body, Zorana Mihajlovic, condemned the behavior of employees as "scandalous and for condemnation" towards Natasa Knezevic Tasic.
- No one should behave that way to Roma people. Serbia is their state as well and they have equal rights like every other citizen. The state is fighting for that and these individual cases are scandalous and for condemnation - said Mihajlovic.
According to the announcement from her office, she said that the entire Serbian society must fight against the prejudices.
- If we want to be part of modern and developed society, free from violence, prejudice, and stereotype, then these are not the values that we are striving for. I believe that those who laugh at Natasa, without wanting to apologize for the unpleasant situation they have brought upon her, don't know that she is world renowned Opera singer, educated woman and one of the most prominent Roma woman. I am proud that she lives in Serbia and she contributes to the improvement of our country - said Mihajlovic.
The Deputy Prime Minister, who chairs the Coordination Body for Monitoring the Implementation of the Strategy for Social Inclusion of Roma and Roma Women in Serbia, also reminded that Roma women are in some way twice as discriminated - as women and as members of the Roma population.
- In addition to the measures that the state implements regarding better conditions in the field of employment, education, health, and housing of members of the Roma community, we can not talk about progress and successful integration into society if there are individuals who are led by prejudice and hatred, identify Roma and Roma women as second class citizens. That is inadmissible and we will not tolerate it - said Mihajlovic.
(Telegraf.co.uk / Agencije)