---

The topic of this study is hate speech against the Roma in Romania, which was studied with the comments posted to three Romanian newspapers´ (Jurnalul National, Evenimentul zilei and Adevarul) Internet forums. This study examines how the history, current situation and demographic factors of the Romanian Roma are discussed in the comments on the Internet forums and what kind of solutions the commentators suggest for the Roma situation that many considered problematic. As the conceptual frame of reference in this study is hate speech that has been elaborated within international and American law, the study focuses on the comments that aim at strengthening the negative stereotypes and inciting violence, characteristics of hate speech. Relating to the subject, the study also touches on the dispute over curbing freedom of speech and defining the limits for forbidden speech.

---

Lari Peltonen was born in Ethiopia in 1981 and went to comprehensive school in Finland. In the age of 17, he travelled to Romania for the first time and later took up the language. Frequent visits and studies in Romania and Hungary drew Peltonen´s attention to the miserable situation of the Roma and the common hostile discourse against them.

---