Historic Funeral Marks First of Its Kind in Germany
A historic funeral took place in Leipzig, marking the first of its kind in Germany. It honored three Roma men whose remains were used for racist research over a century ago. The event was attended by Romani Rose, chairman of the Central Council of Sinti and Roma, and Gjulner Sejdi, chairman of the Saxon Association of Roma and Sinti.
The remains of Johann Holderer, Elias, and Stefan were discovered at the University of Leipzig, stored as part of a skull collection. Martin Gericke, deputy director of the Institute of Anatomy, painstakingly reconstructed their history. The funeral service, described as dignified by Romani Rose, was held at the South Cemetery in Leipzig. A Romanian Orthodox service preceded the interment of the coffins.
The event was a poignant recognition of the pain and suffering of Sinti and Roma people, as stated by Gjulner Sejdi. Michael Brand, Federal Commissioner against Antiziganism, commended the event for demonstrating respect and defense of human dignity. Jens Eilers, deputy rector of the University of Leipzig, apologized on behalf of the institution for the past misuse of the remains.
The funeral served as a solemn reminder of the past injustices faced by the Roma community. Romani Rose called on universities to check their collections and return dignity to people's remains, ensuring such incidents are not repeated.
