video Video
Cemetery plot debate mires French Roma baby funeral
Monday, January 05, 2015 - 01:14
The alleged refusal of a French mayor to bury a Roma baby in the local cemetery sparks an outcry in France, with the funeral taking place in a neighbouring town. Vanessa Johnston reports.
▲ Hide Transcript
▶ View Transcript
France's Roma community prepares to bury a baby girl -- following a heated public debate. Maria Francesca reportedly died in this Roma camp, located in Champlan, on Christmas Day. Her funeral is now being held in a neighboring town... ...after Champlan's conservative mayor, Christian Leclerc, allegedly refused to allow the baby's burial in his municipality... Sparking accusations of racism. Loic Gandais is president of the local Roma and Romanian support association. (SOUNDBITE) (French) PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL ROMA AND ROMANIAN SUPPORT GROUP LOIC GANDAIS SAYING: "It's the second time the mother has lost a baby to sudden infant death syndrome...so she's devastated." The Roma's nomadic lifestyle and reputation for pickpocketing and aggressive begging have made them controversial in France... ...and a subject that has helped boost the far right. But Far Right National Front leader Marine Le Pen echoed many other politicians. (SOUNDBITE) (French) LEADER OF NATIONAL FRONT MARINE LE PEN SAYING (STARTS ON SHOT OF REPORTER): "I think that this was a mistake on the part of the mayor. It shows a lack of humanity." Leclerc has denied opposing the baby's burial in Champlan. Maria Francesca's family is now focused on saying goodbye.
Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code
Cemetery plot debate mires French Roma baby funeral
Monday, January 05, 2015 - 01:14
Top News »
3:11pm BST - (1:26)
1:36pm BST - (2:16)
12:49pm BST - (1:40)
1:18am BST - (1:27)
Tue, 24 Apr, 2018 - (1:07)
Tue, 24 Apr, 2018 - (0:37)
Tue, 24 Apr, 2018 - (1:43)
Tue, 24 Apr, 2018 - (1:54)
Tue, 24 Apr, 2018 - (1:24)
Tue, 24 Apr, 2018 - (1:51)
Tue, 24 Apr, 2018 - (1:29)
Mon, 23 Apr, 2018 - (0:56)
Editors' Picks »
10:15am BST - (1:59)
Tue, 24 Apr, 2018 - (2:00)
Tue, 24 Apr, 2018 - (1:36)
Mon, 23 Apr, 2018 - (1:56)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (1:24)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (2:04)
Thu, 19 Apr, 2018 - (1:45)
Tue, 17 Apr, 2018 - (2:44)
Tue, 17 Apr, 2018 - (2:15)
Most Popular »
Wed, 19 Apr, 2017 - (0:57)
Mon, 04 Dec, 2017 - (50:56)
Thu, 09 Jul, 2015 - (3:08)
Tue, 29 Nov, 2016 - (2:19)
Tue, 19 Apr, 2016 - (1:58)
Business »
8:51pm BST - (1:23)
8:00pm BST - (5:20)
7:20pm BST - (1:00)
7:20pm BST - (1:56)
5:55pm BST - (3:22)
4:31pm BST - (1:18)
4:29pm BST - (0:51)
4:00pm BST - (1:20)
3:37pm BST - (1:12)
2:42pm BST - (1:10)
2:15pm BST - (1:35)
2:15pm BST - (1:15)
Featured Videos
Driverless car fleet plans London to Oxford run
A fleet of autonomous cars could take to Britain's roads later this year with advanced trials of a ÂŁ13 million project well under way
UK royals Kate and William have baby boy
It's a boy. Britain's Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to her third child, and second son, with husband Prince William
Aussie pilot Hall soars to victory in Cannes
Australian pilot Matt Hall claims victory in the second leg of the Red Bull Air Race world championship in Cannes, France
Luxury liner Queen Elizabeth II reopens as floating hotel
One of the world's most famous ships is now a floating hotel permanently moored at Dubai's Mina Rashid port
World Toad in the Hole Championships
The aim of the traditional pub game originating from France is to land as many large brass coins or 'toads' in a table's small hole
Technology »
5:59pm BST - (2:04)
3:17pm BST - (1:49)
Tue, 24 Apr, 2018 - (2:13)
Tue, 24 Apr, 2018 - (1:48)
Mon, 23 Apr, 2018 - (1:55)
Sun, 22 Apr, 2018 - (1:30)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (1:50)
Thu, 19 Apr, 2018 - (1:54)
Entertainment »
1:16am BST - (1:17)
Tue, 24 Apr, 2018 - (1:38)
Tue, 24 Apr, 2018 - (1:51)
Tue, 24 Apr, 2018 - (1:18)
Tue, 24 Apr, 2018 - (1:25)
Tue, 24 Apr, 2018 - (2:02)
Mon, 23 Apr, 2018 - (1:28)
Mon, 23 Apr, 2018 - (1:39)
Mon, 23 Apr, 2018 - (2:11)
Mon, 23 Apr, 2018 - (1:50)
Mon, 23 Apr, 2018 - (0:39)
Sports And Leisure »
10:14am BST - (0:55)
Tue, 24 Apr, 2018 - (0:47)
Mon, 23 Apr, 2018 - (1:17)
Mon, 23 Apr, 2018 - (2:38)
Mon, 23 Apr, 2018 - (1:27)
Mon, 23 Apr, 2018 - (1:17)
Mon, 23 Apr, 2018 - (1:30)
Mon, 23 Apr, 2018 - (1:40)
Mon, 23 Apr, 2018 - (1:07)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (1:08)
Oddly Enough »
9:30pm BST - (1:10)
Mon, 23 Apr, 2018 - (0:45)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (1:00)
Fri, 20 Apr, 2018 - (1:27)
Thu, 19 Apr, 2018 - (0:53)
Thu, 19 Apr, 2018 - (0:53)
Thu, 19 Apr, 2018 - (2:22)
Tue, 17 Apr, 2018 - (1:33)
Tue, 17 Apr, 2018 - (1:27)
Dateline Asia »
Tue, 05 Dec, 2017 - (2:06)
Tue, 05 Dec, 2017 - (2:11)
Fri, 01 Dec, 2017 - (2:04)
Thu, 30 Nov, 2017 - (2:10)
Thu, 30 Nov, 2017 - (2:14)
Wed, 29 Nov, 2017 - (2:11)
Tue, 28 Nov, 2017 - (1:55)
Tue, 28 Nov, 2017 - (2:21)
Mon, 27 Nov, 2017 - (2:25)
Fri, 24 Nov, 2017 - (2:16)
Fri, 24 Nov, 2017 - (2:14)
Thu, 23 Nov, 2017 - (2:18)