Chronicles of ordinary racism 2011 - Cronache di ordinario razzismo
Chronicles of ordinary racism 2011 - Cronache di ordinario razzismo
Chronicles of ordinary racism 2011 - Cronache di ordinario razzismo
- No tags were found...
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
immigrants, particularly Muslims, in Italian society 240 , is a virtual impossibility. The<br />
me<strong>di</strong>a juggernaut sets out at once to prove that so‐called “Islamic people” “are stuck<br />
the Middle Ages” and are not well‐suited to the western world, forgetting that the<br />
Italian criminal code recognized, up until 5th August 1981 (art. 587), a specific<br />
extenuating circumstance for honour killings.<br />
The arguments, so to speak, adduced in support <strong>of</strong> this theory are always identical: “the<br />
war <strong>of</strong> religions”, the “clash between civilization and barbarity” and the opposition<br />
between the “good” and the “wicked” bear witness, once again (after the Hina case that<br />
was almost unanimously interpreted from an anti‐Muslim perspective), to the<br />
defensive, self‐justifying attitude <strong>of</strong> our society which holds everything it perceives as<br />
foreign or <strong>di</strong>fferent at arm’s length, instead <strong>of</strong> attempting to understand the true<br />
dynamics <strong>of</strong> events.<br />
Likewise, all the various platitudes concerning the relationship between Italians and<br />
foreigners, Catholics and Muslims make a comeback. 241 Some even call attention to the<br />
simultaneous occurrence <strong>of</strong> Ramadan to support this religious rea<strong>di</strong>ng.<br />
The political manipulation <strong>of</strong> Sanaa’s murder also begins to take place imme<strong>di</strong>ately.<br />
The minister for equal opportunities Mara Carfagna makes known her desire to<br />
personally press civil charges against the “Islamic” murdering father 242 (would she do<br />
the same for the many Italian men who commit similar crimes)<br />
The day after the tragedy, Pdl MP Souad Sbai states: “Yet another cultural murder,<br />
resulting from a drive towards integration held back by the extremist propaganda <strong>of</strong><br />
would‐be Imams who slither like poisonous snakes through our cities, sprea<strong>di</strong>ng hatred<br />
and ignorance and preaching a vicious intolerance”. The Northern League <strong>of</strong> Friuli<br />
Venezia Giulia demands a census <strong>of</strong> all the Muslim immigrants who live in the region<br />
(thus effectively cataloguing them). 243 The province <strong>of</strong> Pordenone asks the President’s<br />
<strong>of</strong>fice to award a “commendation” to Sanaa’s partner, “our brave countryman and catholic<br />
entrepreneur, who risked his own life to defend his partner, <strong>of</strong> a <strong>di</strong>fferent religion and<br />
nationality, from the homicidal and fundamentalist fury <strong>of</strong> her father”. Accor<strong>di</strong>ng to<br />
her partner, religion was the motivating factor behind the murder and extremists like<br />
Sanaa’s father “should go back to where they came from”. Imme<strong>di</strong>ately prior to the<br />
240 “It is impossible – the League’s Mayor <strong>of</strong> Azzano Decimo Enzo Bortolotti declares – to integrate with these Muslims. We are<br />
faced with yet another ‘Hina case’ that reveals how impracticable living with these people actually is. It is heinous that in a fit <strong>of</strong><br />
pique, a father can murder his daughter. It is true that this happens among Italians as well, but if it is confirmed that there is a<br />
religious motive, it will mean we are dealing with people who do not wish to integrate. Extremists are among us, 16 September<br />
2009, “Messaggero Veneto”.<br />
241 “Everyone has fitted into the slot assigned to them by stereotypes”, Manuela Cartosio comments on “Il Manifesto” in Il corpo<br />
<strong>di</strong> Sanaa e gli stereotipi – (Sanaa’s body and stereotypes), pointing out how the tendency to simplify and the “create opposing<br />
factions” (Islamic murder versus gender murder) prevails, in the public debate, over any desire to conduct a more in-depth<br />
analysis <strong>of</strong> the many factors that may drive someone to commit so terrible a crime, 18 September 2009.<br />
242 “A horrific murder, inhuman, unconceivable, byproduct <strong>of</strong> an absurd war <strong>of</strong> religion that has made its way into out homes.<br />
This is why I will request that the Attorney general’s <strong>of</strong>fice to allow me to press civil charges once the trial begins. Such terrible<br />
cases inspire us to continue along the path <strong>of</strong> an “Italian model” <strong>of</strong> integration for immigrants: everyone in Italy must have the<br />
right to follow their own religion, but the country can accept it only if it respects human rights, inclu<strong>di</strong>ng those <strong>of</strong> women, and<br />
national laws”, Sanaa: «Delitto orribile, ci costituiremo parte civile» (Sanaa: ‘horrific murder, we’ll press civil charges’), 16<br />
September 2009, pariopportunita.gov.it.<br />
243 This question was put by Northern League Regional Leader Danilo Narduzzi who stated: “The death <strong>of</strong> Sanaa is yet another<br />
sign that all those who cluelessly talk about integration between Islam and the western world are dangerously deluded. Unlike the<br />
left, we are firmly against the in<strong>di</strong>scriminately welcoming everyone, because moderate immigrants, if indeed such a thing exists,<br />
sadly remain silent before these crimes. An opinion poll is needed to understand where Muslim communities are located,<br />
especially those linked to fundamentalist groups. We cannot feed a climate <strong>of</strong> uncertainty so we need our citizens to be informed<br />
about the identity <strong>of</strong> those who we interact with daily”. We will ask the relevant authorities to draft a “map <strong>of</strong> danger”, 17<br />
September 2009, Asca.<br />
95