President Nicusor Dan said on Thursday that the recent attack on a foreign citizen in Bucharest is an „intolerable” act and that „everyone who lives and works here deserves protection and equal treatment.”
„I firmly condemn the assault committed on a young man who came to work in Bucharest, who was hit and humiliated just because he wasn’t born here. Such acts are intolerable. In recent weeks, voices that incite hatred against foreigners have spread publicly. And words have real, sometimes dramatic consequences,” the head of state wrote on X.
He underscored that such xenophobic violence acts, „no matter how isolated they may seem, are an attack on the fundamental values of our society.”
Authorities should handle this case with the utmost seriousness, as a hate crime, the president said.
„I congratulate the off-duty police officer who stepped in quickly and with great courage to stop the attacker, thus preventing the incident from degenerating,” added Nicusor Dan.
The president also referred to the Romanian diaspora, reaffirming that all people living and working in Romania have equal rights.
„Many Romanians are, in their turn, working abroad. That is why we know all too well what it means to be compelled to look for your chance far from homeland and family. I reaffirm my commitment to a Romania that respects each person’s rights, regardless of nationality, ethnicity or status. Anyone who lives and works here deserves protection and equal treatment. It is not hatred that defines us, Romanians, but solidarity, hospitality and tolerance,” Nicusor Dan wrote.
A young man was arrested for 30 days on suspicion of racially assaulting on August 26 a Bangladeshi citizen who then needed medical attention. For racial and xenophobic reasons, the attacker punched the victim in the face, causing him traumatic injuries that required 1-2 days of medical care to heal, the Press Office of the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Sector 2 Court reported.
On August 19, Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) deputy Dan Tanasa wrote on Facebook: „Refuse the order if it’s not delivered by a Romanian. Stop encouraging the import of unskilled workers from Asia and Africa. Wake up!”
AGERPRES
