The decision by a French right-wing mayor not to bury a dead Roma baby sparked outcry among rights groups on Saturday, reports RFI.
The baby, who died the day after Christmas, was denied burial in the town of Champlan, 15 km from Paris, and will now be laid to rest in neighbouring Wissous.
"It's blatant racism," rights groups blasted on Saturday, in reaction to the mayor's refusal to bury a Roma baby in his town of Champlan in the French department of Essonne.
Christian Leclerc, who represents several right wing parties, gave no explanation for his decision to deny two-month old Maria Francesca, burial.
But according to a local town councillor, Leclerc claimed that the baby's death had been declared in a different town, that of Corbeil-Essonnes.
False, says Loïc Gandais, president of the Association of Solidarity with Roma families in Essonne (ASEFRR).
For him Leclerc's decision constitutes "racism and zenophobia," he told AFP.