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Roma community holds baby's funeral in Paris suburb amid renewed concerns about discrimination

Associated Press
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The mother of Maria Francesca, who died of sudden infant death syndrome, cries in front of the coffin of her baby during the funeral in Wissous, outside Paris, France, Monday, Jan. 5, 2015. Wissous offered a gravesite for the baby after the mayor of Champlan, where the child and mother lived, reportedly refused a burial plot. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) (The Associated Press)

The mother of Maria Francesca, who died of sudden infant death syndrome, cries during the funeral in Wissous, outside Paris, France, Monday, Jan. 5, 2015. Wissous offered a gravesite for the baby after the mayor of Champlan, where the child and mother lived, reportedly refused a burial plot. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) (The Associated Press)

The mother of Maria Francesca, who died of sudden infant death syndrome, cries in front of the coffin of her baby during the funeral in Wissous, outside Paris, France, Monday, Jan. 5, 2015. Wissous offered a gravesite for the baby after the mayor of Champlan, where the child and mother lived, reportedly refused a burial plot. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) (The Associated Press)

A Roma community is burying a dead infant in a Paris suburb after questions erupted over where she should be laid to rest, raising national concerns about discrimination.

About 200 family members and townspeople attended a funeral Mass on Monday. A hearse then took the small coffin to the town of Wissous for burial.

Wissous offered a gravesite for the baby after the mayor of the town where she had lived, Champlan, reportedly refused a burial.

Under heavy criticism, the mayor later denied ever refusing a burial site. A top government official said he would investigate.

The case has called attention to discrimination against France's estimated 20,000 Roma, also known as Gypsies. Most live in makeshift camps with few basic amenities.