Urgent EU response needed to rising anti-Roma sentiment in Slovenia: Escalating antigypsyism in Slovenia following the Novo Mesto incident
by Stelina Dungaj
ERGO Network expresses deep alarm over the escalating antigypsyism and collective blaming of Roma communities in Slovenia in the aftermath of the recent tragic incident in Novo Mesto. While we fully recognise the gravity of the crime and the importance of justice for the victim and his family, the current public discourse and political responses risk undermining fundamental rights and social cohesion in Slovenia.
What is the “Šutar Law” and the recent developments
On 25 October 2025, a Slovenian citizen, Mr Aleš Šutar, was fatally assaulted outside a nightclub in Novo Mesto. The alleged perpetrator, reportedly from the Roma community, was arrested and remains under investigation.
However, instead of focusing on individual accountability, public reaction quickly turned into mass protests, antigypsyist rhetoric, and calls for punitive measures against the entire community.
Over ten thousand people gathered in demonstrations that, in many cases, carried openly discriminatory and stigmatising messages targeting Roma residents. The situation has escalated politically, with the resignation of Slovenia’s Minister of Justice and Minister of the Interior, the mobilisation of auxiliary police, and calls for increased surveillance of Roma settlements.
These developments have triggered a dangerous shift in public discourse, in which Roma people are increasingly portrayed as a security threat rather than as equal citizens deserving of rights and protection.
In this tense climate, the Slovenian Parliament adopted a new security legislation package, widely referred to as the “Šutar Law,” that significantly expands police powers. The law allows warrantless entry into designated “high-risk” areas, increases surveillance capacities, and has been heavily criticised by Roma rights organisations, legal experts, and human rights groups who warn that it enables ethnic profiling and collective punishment. Adopted in the immediate aftermath of the Novo Mesto incident, the law risks institutionalising discriminatory practices under the guise of public security.
Our Concerns
ERGO Network is concerned that:
- Collective blame and racialised narratives are dominating national discourse, reinforcing historic prejudice and social division.
- Media and political framing have amplified stigmatisation rather than fostering responsible, fact-based reporting.
- Institutional responses, including proposed increases in police powers, risk legitimising discrimination and deepening the marginalisation of Roma communities.
- Roma partners and activists in Slovenia are reporting heightened fear, harassment, and social exclusion in their local environments.
The adoption of the “Šutar Law,” with its provisions for warrantless entry and expanded surveillance, further exacerbates these risks by enabling disproportionate policing practices that may be applied in ethnically discriminatory ways. - This is not an isolated national issue but rather a European human rights crisis. When one Member State normalises antigypsyism, it sets a precedent that endangers all European Roma communities and erodes EU credibility on fundamental rights.
We urgently call on:
1. The European Commission
- To publicly condemn antigypsyism and collective punishment narratives emerging from Slovenia.
- To engage immediately with Slovenian authorities through the Commissioners for Justice, Equality, and Enlargement, ensuring that all national measures comply with EU law, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and the EU Roma Strategic Framework.
- To monitor and report on the situation, assessing whether national actions risk breaching EU non-discrimination and equality principles.
2. The Slovenian Government
- To reaffirm its commitment to minority protection and human rights, it ensures that law enforcement acts proportionately and without ethnic bias.
- To promote responsible public communication from political leaders that avoids stigmatisation.
- To support Roma organisations and local mediators working on community cohesion and trust-building.
3. Media and Civil Society
- To adopt ethical reporting standards and avoid sensationalist or collective language when covering cases involving Roma individuals.
- To counter hate speech and misinformation, promote balanced and human rights–based narratives.
- To stand in solidarity with Roma communities, amplifying their voices and ensuring their protection.
The recent developments in Slovenia, including the adoption of the “Šutar Law,” make clear that the situation has moved beyond spontaneous public outrage and entered the realm of institutionalised discrimination as the law risks embedding ethnic profiling into state practice and normalising the treatment of Roma communities as a security threat. Such measures not only endanger fundamental rights but also deepen social divisions and create conditions for long-term marginalisation.
This moment demands decisive action from both national authorities and EU institutions. Without a firm response, Slovenia risks setting a dangerous precedent for the erosion of minority rights across Europe. The escalation of antigypsyism and the implementation of discriminatory security policies must be urgently addressed to uphold the principles of equality, justice, and human dignity enshrined in the European project. Europe must demonstrate, unequivocally, that collective punishment and ethnic scapegoating have no place within its borders.
