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'''Gypsies''' are an ethnic group, properly known as 'Romani' or 'Roma', who are believed to have come from [[Rajasthan]]<ref>Donald Kenrick. Historical Dictionary of the Gypsies (Romanies). Scarecrow Press</ref>. They are most noted for their nomadic culture; their population is approximately 15 million<ref>http://europeandcis.undp.org/uploads/public/File/rbec_web/vgr/chapter1.1.pdf</ref>, although, due to the above fact, this is very difficult to measure accurately.

'''Gypsies''' are an [[ethnic]] group, properly known as 'Romani' or 'Roma', who are believed to have come from [[Rajasthan]] <ref>Donald Kenrick. Historical Dictionary of the Gypsies (Romanies). Scarecrow Press</ref>. They are most noted for their nomadic culture; their population is approximately 15 million<ref>http://europeandcis.undp.org/uploads/public/File/rbec_web/vgr/chapter1.1.pdf</ref>, although, due to the above fact, this is very difficult to measure accurately.

==Persecution of Gypsies==

==Persecution of Gypsies==

Gypsy people have long suffered from prejudice and discrimination; one of the first concrete examples would be the laws passed in [[Moldavia]] and [[Wallachia]] which stated that any Romani on those countries' soil would automatically become a [[slave]].  

Gypsy people have long suffered from prejudice and discrimination; one of the first concrete examples would be the laws passed in [[Moldavia]] and [[Wallachia]] which stated that any Romani on those countries' soil would automatically become a [[slave]].  

Discriminatory laws were passed in many other countries as well; in Western Europe during the 15th century [[Ottoman]] invasion, in [[Argentina]] in 1880, and even the [[USA]] in 1885 passed laws restricting Gypsy immigration.<ref>http://www.geocities.com/Paris/5121/timeline.htm</ref>. Forced assimilation, and the abduction of children, was also practiced, in countries such as Norway, where 1500 Romani children were removed by the state from their parents<ref>http://www2.wcc-coe.org/ccdocuments.nsf/index/plen-4.4-en.html</ref> (under the, albeit later, [[Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court]], such actions are classified as attempted [[genocide]]).

Discriminatory laws were passed in many other countries as well; in [[Western Europe]] during the 15th century [[Ottoman]] invasion, in [[Argentina]] in 1880, and even the [[USA]] in 1885 passed laws restricting Gypsy immigration.<ref>http://www.geocities.com/Paris/5121/timeline.htm</ref>. Forced assimilation, and the abduction of children, was also practiced, in countries such as Norway, where 1500 Romani children were removed by the state from their parents<ref>http://www2.wcc-coe.org/ccdocuments.nsf/index/plen-4.4-en.html</ref> (under the, albeit later, [[Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court]], such actions are classified as attempted [[genocide]]).

Romani also suffered a great deal under the [[Holocaust]]; approximately 1,000,000<ref>http://www.radoc.net:8088/RADOC-3-PORR.htm</ref> of them were killed during it, a sizable fraction, in a period known as the 'Porajmos'. In the [[Bohemia]] region, this [[mass murder]] was so thorough that their culture and language became extinct there.

Romani also suffered a great deal under the [[Holocaust]]; approximately 1,000,000<ref>http://www.radoc.net:8088/RADOC-3-PORR.htm</ref> of them were killed during it, a sizable fraction, in a period known as the 'Porajmos'. In the [[Bohemia]] region, this [[mass murder]] was so thorough that their culture and language became extinct there.