Chronicles of ordinary racism 2011 - Cronache di ordinario razzismo

immigrants, particularly Muslims, in Italian society 240 , is a virtual impossibility. The
media juggernaut sets out at once to prove that so‐called “Islamic people” “are stuck
the Middle Ages” and are not well‐suited to the western world, forgetting that the
Italian criminal code recognized, up until 5th August 1981 (art. 587), a specific
extenuating circumstance for honour killings.
The arguments, so to speak, adduced in support of this theory are always identical: “the
war of religions”, the “clash between civilization and barbarity” and the opposition
between the “good” and the “wicked” bear witness, once again (after the Hina case that
was almost unanimously interpreted from an anti‐Muslim perspective), to the
defensive, self‐justifying attitude of our society which holds everything it perceives as
foreign or different at arm’s length, instead of attempting to understand the true
dynamics of events.
Likewise, all the various platitudes concerning the relationship between Italians and
foreigners, Catholics and Muslims make a comeback. 241 Some even call attention to the
simultaneous occurrence of Ramadan to support this religious reading.
The political manipulation of Sanaa’s murder also begins to take place immediately.
The minister for equal opportunities Mara Carfagna makes known her desire to
personally press civil charges against the “Islamic” murdering father 242 (would she do
the same for the many Italian men who commit similar crimes)
The day after the tragedy, Pdl MP Souad Sbai states: “Yet another cultural murder,
resulting from a drive towards integration held back by the extremist propaganda of
would‐be Imams who slither like poisonous snakes through our cities, spreading hatred
and ignorance and preaching a vicious intolerance”. The Northern League of Friuli
Venezia Giulia demands a census of all the Muslim immigrants who live in the region
(thus effectively cataloguing them). 243 The province of Pordenone asks the President’s
office to award a “commendation” to Sanaa’s partner, “our brave countryman and catholic
entrepreneur, who risked his own life to defend his partner, of a different religion and
nationality, from the homicidal and fundamentalist fury of her father”. According to
her partner, religion was the motivating factor behind the murder and extremists like
Sanaa’s father “should go back to where they came from”. Immediately prior to the
240 “It is impossible – the League’s Mayor of Azzano Decimo Enzo Bortolotti declares – to integrate with these Muslims. We are
faced with yet another ‘Hina case’ that reveals how impracticable living with these people actually is. It is heinous that in a fit of
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
religious motive, it will mean we are dealing with people who do not wish to integrate. Extremists are among us, 16 September
2009, “Messaggero Veneto”.
241 “Everyone has fitted into the slot assigned to them by stereotypes”, Manuela Cartosio comments on “Il Manifesto” in Il corpo
di Sanaa e gli stereotipi – (Sanaa’s body and stereotypes), pointing out how the tendency to simplify and the “create opposing
factions” (Islamic murder versus gender murder) prevails, in the public debate, over any desire to conduct a more in-depth
analysis of the many factors that may drive someone to commit so terrible a crime, 18 September 2009.
242 “A horrific murder, inhuman, unconceivable, byproduct of an absurd war of religion that has made its way into out homes.
This is why I will request that the Attorney general’s office to allow me to press civil charges once the trial begins. Such terrible
cases inspire us to continue along the path of an “Italian model” of integration for immigrants: everyone in Italy must have the
right to follow their own religion, but the country can accept it only if it respects human rights, including those of women, and
national laws”, Sanaa: «Delitto orribile, ci costituiremo parte civile» (Sanaa: ‘horrific murder, we’ll press civil charges’), 16
September 2009, pariopportunita.gov.it.
243 This question was put by Northern League Regional Leader Danilo Narduzzi who stated: “The death of Sanaa is yet another
sign that all those who cluelessly talk about integration between Islam and the western world are dangerously deluded. Unlike the
left, we are firmly against the indiscriminately welcoming everyone, because moderate immigrants, if indeed such a thing exists,
sadly remain silent before these crimes. An opinion poll is needed to understand where Muslim communities are located,
especially those linked to fundamentalist groups. We cannot feed a climate of uncertainty so we need our citizens to be informed
about the identity of those who we interact with daily”. We will ask the relevant authorities to draft a “map of danger”, 17
September 2009, Asca.
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