Death and indifference in Italy

Author: Rosa Maria Young

Wars, killings, hunger… we are so used to it daily on the news that we seem to have become immune to it or hardened to others suffering. But a picture of the covered bodies of two dead young gypsy girls on a beach in Italy surrounded by the indifference of sunbathers was one of the most shocking things I have ever seen. Have we become so inhuman that those things can happen?

That the victims were gypsies, an ethnic group never truly accepted anywhere is even more disturbing as it seems to demonstrate that racism is alive and well in the 21st century in the civilized world. Italian newspapers, an archbishop and civil liberties campaigners have expressed shock and revulsion after the photographs were published. The incident occurred July 19th at the beach of Torregaveta, west of Naples where the victims, two girls aged 14 and 16 together with two other girls decided apparently to get in the water even though none of them knew how to swim. They soon got into difficulties because of strong currents in the area. Two of the girls were rescued by life-savers from a nearby private beach. But rescuers were unable to reach the two oldest until they were already dead. According to some reports the girls have been begging or selling trinkets until their ill fated decision.

Nevertheless and in view of the attitude of Italians towards the Roma minority questions have arisen and a civil liberties group - EveryOne - said it had asked for talks with the authorities to shed light on the circumstances of the girls’ death. A statement from the group said: “Two young Roma would never have left their scant merchandise for ‘a refreshing dip’ in the waves. Two Gypsy girls would never have gone bathing in full view of everyone because of the modesty that is one of their distinguishing characteristics.”

Nothing extraordinary about having doubts when one knows that Italy is gripped by anti-Gypsy feelings. Even in the government. Since coming to office in May, Silvio Berlusconi’s right wing government has appointed three special commissioners to deal with the Roma in each of Italy’s three biggest cities - Naples, Milan and Rome. It has also ordered the fingerprinting of the country’s Gypsy population, including minors. The European commission has asked the Italian government for more details about it and this month the European parliament approved a motion condemning it as an act of discrimination banned by the European convention of human rights.