Mission & Justice

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’.”

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John Hooper; 2/7/08
Italy’s highest appeal court has ruled that it is acceptable to discriminate against gypsies on the grounds that they are thieves. The judgment comes amid a nationwide clampdown on gypsies, also known as Roma, by the Government of Silvio Berlusconi. Last week the Interior Minister, Roberto Maroni, announced plans to fingerprint all of Italy’s Roma, including children. The ruling, which appears to provide judicial backing for the Government’s policies, was handed down in March but reported only on Monday. The judges overthrew the conviction of six defendants who signed a leaflet demanding the expulsion of Verona’s Gypsies in 2000.

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