https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/08/widow-nigerian-man-beaten-death-italy-granted-refugee-status-chinyery-emmanuel-namdi-
The Guardian
Widow of Nigerian man beaten to death in Italy granted refugee status
Italy debates how law must tackle racism as Chinyery Emmanuel granted asylum after husband’s death
Rosie Scammell in Rome Friday 8 July 2016 15.35 BST
The wife of a Nigerian man beaten to death in Italy has been granted refugee status in Italy, as the country debates how society and lawmakers should respond to racism.Italy’s interior ministry announced on Friday that Chinyery Emmanuel had been given asylum a day after her husband, Emmanuel Chidi Namdi, died from injuries sustained in the attack in Fermo, a small town in central Italy.
The couple had arrived in Europe from Libya last year, after reportedly fleeing the terrorist group Boko Haram in Nigeria, and were being hosted by the church community in Fermo.
They were walking in the town on Tuesday when an Italian man allegedly called Namdi’s wife a “monkey”. The episode ended violently with Namdi falling into a coma and dying in hospital the next day.
His wife has since been moved to alternative accommodation and is being cared for by a group of doctors and nuns. Speaking at a vigil for her husband, Chinyery Emmanuel said her life had been destroyed.
“God, where are you? Why do you leave me in this wicked world without Emmanuel? It’s very painful for me to stay,” she said.
An autopsy is due to be carried out on Friday and Namdi’s funeral is expected to take place on Sunday in the town’s cathedral.
A local man, Amedeo Mancini, 39, has been arrested. His lawyer, Francesco De Minicis, said Mancini felt pained and regretful about the incident.
De Minicis said: “He said that he’s not a fascist. He’s a very simple guy. He’s not studied … He’s not a well-off person.”
Paolo Calcinaro, the mayor of Fermo, said the town had a history of welcoming outsiders. He said: “This is a very calm place, from this point of view I’ve never come across racism. Now the community finds itself under the spotlight with negative publicity which is not justified.”
Recently church buildings have been hit by makeshift bombs, believed to be linked to the religious community hosting between 150 and 200 refugees and asylum-seekers.
The mayor said Europe should do more to help Italy cope with the arrival of migrants, while at a local level it was important to be aware of any shift in attitudes. He said: “We must open our eyes and pay attention to every possible sign of an increase in racism.”
Cécile Kyenge, an MEP who was Italy’s first black minister, said the country was in need of a political and cultural change. “Politicians who express phrases which incite racism have a devastating effect on society. Perhaps they don’t realise, but they effect people, in their discourse at home, within their family, with friends,” she told the newspaper La Stampa.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1411140/racist-thugs-target-polish-family-with-arson-attack-and-hate-filled-letter-after-brexit-vote/
The Sun
'GO BACK TO YOUR F***ING COUNTRY' Racist thugs target Polish family with arson attack and hate-filled letter after Brexit vote
A fire was started deliberately in a shed close to the house, with flames spreading to cause substantial damage
BY KAREN MORRISON 8th July 2016, 9:41 am
ARSONISTS targeted the home of a Polish family and left a “hate-filled” letter with further threats at the scene, police said.The incident took place at the property on Blandford Road in Efford, Plymouth, overnight on Wednesday into Thursday.
A fire was started deliberately in a shed close to the house, with flames spreading to cause substantial damage.
Glass in the window of the bathroom shattered and the downpipes melted, Devon and Cornwall Police said.
After the fire was started the occupants of the property, who are originally from Poland, discovered a threatening letter had been sent to them.
Forensic examinations of the scene and letter are under way and the family are being supported by police and partner agencies.
Ewa Banaszak, 22, told the Plymouth Herald that her two younger sisters and father were inside the home when the fire took hold.
She said: “We’ve been here almost 10 years now. We’ve never got to the point where someone has taken action. It was more of a verbal problem in the past.
“I do think the EU referendum is a big part of what’s happened.”
Ms Banaszak said the family had been on the receiving end of insults in the past two years, with several incidents since Britain voted to leave the EU.
In a post on Facebook, shared thousands of times, Ms Banaszak wrote: “This is so sad and disturbing to go through … Especially that we have been in here for 10 years, working, studying and putting (in) all that we can … Please share and spread the word so that it doesn’t happen to someone else.”
Supporters commenting on the post described the incident as “disgusting” and “disgraceful”.
Inspector Darren Green, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: “I am appalled by this crime and incidents of hate such as this are treated as a priority by my officers.
“Hate crime has no place in Plymouth and we will do everything possible to locate those responsible for the fire and the disgusting letter sent to the victims.
“We believe this fire was started deliberately, was racially motivated and could have endangered the lives of the occupants.
“We are asking for the public’s help in this matter as someone will know who is responsible.
“If anyone knows anything that can help with our investigations, then please get in touch.
“We would also like to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious last night and in the moments leading up to the fire, or anyone seen fleeing the scene.”
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the force on 101@dc.police.uk or call 101 quoting crime log CR/045564/16.
No comments:
Post a Comment