1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
SocietyRomania

Is racism taking root in Romania?

05:38

This browser does not support the video element.

September 8, 2025

A brutal attack on a Bangladeshi delivery worker in Bucharest has sparked a debate about rising racism and extremism in Romania. DW spoke to victims, activists and police officers about recent developments.

In late August 2025, Bucharest, Romania's capital, was the scene of a violent hate crime: Ismail Hossain, a Bangladeshi delivery worker, was assaulted on the street while at work.

The incident, filmed by the assailant, drew attention to growing cases of racism and xenophobia. Accounts range from off-duty police interventions to NGO reports on migrant workers’ experiences, highlighting the difficulties faced by foreigners in Romania and the wider social tensions around immigration and integration.
 

Skip next section DW's Top Story

DW's Top Story

Skip next section More stories from DW