Mussolini would be proud

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7500605.stm

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/07/03/gypsies-fingerprinted.html

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92529373

The right-wing Berlusconi government in Italy has decided to fingerprint gypsies living in Italy (just gypsies, not all Italians), even those who are Italian citizens. They claim it is a necessary measure to reduce crime and illegal immigration. But Italy has very low crime on average vs. the US, and much of that is due to Mafia-type home grown gangs (see Napoli garbage crisis), not immigrants.

Transient gypsies, known as "Roma" in Italy, have been distrusted, and in some cases, persecuted for centuries - especially during the WWII fascist period in Europe. But now there are over 150,000 Roma living in Italy, and 60% of them are citizens with supposedly equal rights and freedoms with ethnic Italians. Yes it is true that some Roma do engage in crime and other undesirable behaviors, just like any people. But where are the DATA that show convincingly that Romas are the chief cause of Italy's crime, and fingerprinting them will fix the problem? I suppose this is just another ignorant, xenophobic, knee-jerk backlash against a marginalized minority - unjustly blaming them for larger social anxieties and problems (like Latino immigrants in America).

Human rights activists also blame Italian media, of which Berlusconi is a major player, for playing the fear game and stirring up anti-Roma stereotypes. Some estimates suggest he controls over 50% of all Italian media, like the Rupert Murdoch of Italy or something (separation of powers, hello?). It's probably no coincidence that many hate crimes have been reported against Roma this year too.

The Italian Government claim that they are partially doing this to "help" the Roma children, many of whom live "off the grid" in dirty camps and may be abused by misguided parents - forced to pick pockets or engage in debauchery for money - instead of going to school. But if so, this is a really Gestapo-esque humanitarian effort. "Where are your papers!?!"

Already the EU has condemned this move and demanded that Italy rescind it (in a non-binding declaration of course). Many Italians and others see the decision as prejudiced if not blatantly racist, and some non-Romas got fingerprinted as a show of solidarity with their fellow Italians. Italy is a G8 nation for heaven's sake, and it is shameful that they would even consider such a plan, much less implement it.

Other related headlines...

All Things Considered, July 14, 2008 · Italy is moving ahead with plans to fingerprint the country's Roma, or gypsy, people. The government says the fingerprinting is necessary to fight crime, identify illegal immigrants and protect Roma children from exploitation. The plan has critics.

All Things Considered, May 31, 2008 · There has been a swell of anti-immigrant sentiment in Italy, including attacks on the Roma population. Italy's politicians and Rome's new mayor, a former neo-fascist, are helping fuel anti-immigrant feelings.

Morning Edition, May 19, 2008 · An immigration crackdown by Italian authorities has been accompanied by vigilante justice against the Roma — or gypsies — in Naples. Italian officials have been strongly criticized by the European Union and human rights groups for their treatment of the ethnic group. Now the new right-wing government wants to create a special body to deal with the Roma.