The release of two neo-Nazi arsonists has sparked outrage in the Czech Republic. Václav Cojocaru and Ivo Müller were convicted of firebombing a Roma family’s home in 2009, leaving three members of the family injured, including a two-year-old girl who suffered burns on 80 percent of her body and lost three fingers.
The district court ruled last week that the two could be released on probation after serving 13 years of a 20-year sentence. The decision has been met with shock and anger from the Roma community and human rights activists.
Two others convicted over the crime remain in prison, but the early release of Cojocaru and Müller has been seen as a sign of leniency towards racially motivated violence. The Czech government has promised to review the decision and take action to ensure justice is served.