Italy ‘must stop fngerprinting gypsies’
11/7/08
European lawmakers have demanded that Italy stop fingerprinting Roma gypsies, branding the action a direct act of discrimination, which Italian ministers swiftly rejected. In a resolution adopted by 336 votes to 220 with 77 abstentions, the members of the European Parliament urged Italy to call a halt to the practice until the European Commission could investigate. The resolution urged the Italian authorities “to refrain from collecting fingerprints from Roma, including minors, as this would clearly constitute an act of discrimination based on race and ethnic origin”. It also condemned “utterly and without equivocation all forms of racism and discrimination faced by the Roma and others regarded as ‘gypsies’.”
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24002686-12335,00.html
Tags: Europe, Gypsies, Human Rights