UN calls for suspension on Dale Farm eviction

On Friday a UN committee called on the government to suspend the "immature and unwise" eviction, saying it would "disproportionately affect the lives of the Gypsy and Traveller families, particularly women, children and older people".

The camp has also received support from Franciscan monks, who last week blessed the site, as well as Anglican and Catholic bishops.

Rabbi Janet Burden said: "People may not be aware that the Travellers, along with the Gypsies and a limited number of other groups with similar lifestyle patterns, are officially recognised as ethnic minorities, just like our own Jewish community. As such, they deserve protection under European human rights law."

Burden compared the "vilification" of Travellers to the discrimination Jews faced in the first half of the 20th century.

Members of the Jewish community were due to visit Dale Farm Travellers' camp on Sunday to offer their support to 400 people facing eviction from the green belt site in Essex.

Source: Guardian Newspaper

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