Italy: Immigrant leader attacked
01 January 1991
Italy: Immigrant leader attacked
artdoc June=1993
Mohideen Nowfer, the Secretary of FOCSI - a federation of
immigrant associations - was attacked at his home in Rome by
three hooded thugs who held a gun to his ear, carved swastikas
on both his cheeks and trimmed his moustache to make him resemble
Hitler. They then went on to ransack his flat, pouring petrol
everywhere, including on Mr. Nowfer. T he attackers were
disturbed and fled before they could set him alight.
Leaders of various immigrant associations are furious about the
attack, particularly the police response. Mohideen's wife and
child were interrogated all afternoon, whilst he was
hospitalised. Giuliano Campioni, professor at Pisa University and
President of Africa-Insieme attributes the rise of racism and
fascism to the increasing state criminalisation of immigrants.
`It is time now, beginning with the Conso decree, to say no to
criminalisation of immigrants. Every morning in our area police
vans arrive hunting for illegal immigrants. Such police
operations reinforce images of immigrants as criminals and
heighten racism'(Il Manifesto 16.4.93).
Police blame Trento deaths on ethnic feuds
Police say that the fire that killed five immigrants from Kosovo
was caused by the Yugoslavia mafia. Although the review is
reported uncritically in Il Manifesto, no evidence is presented
to support the allegations and the report does not even consider
the possibility that the arson attack could have been racially
inspired. Instead, it frequently mentions quarrels between
Kosovans and other `Slavs' in the Milan area and the `well-known'
involvement of the groups in rackets such as drugs and
prostitution.
Immigrants at the hostel, many of whom are `illegals', deny any
tensions or internal quarrels. `We never turned anyone away or
threw anyone out' they say (Il Manifesto 20.3.93).
100 fascists detained by police
A police operation, which took place under the Mancino decree
which allows for raids of neo-nazi HQs, has resulted in 100 far-
right wing activists being placed under investigation, 70 of whom
have been prohibited from leaving the country, or changing
addresses.
The main targets of the operation (that police say was intended
to prevent the formation of a new, nationwide neo-nazi
organisation) were the Movimento Politico in Rome, Azione
Skinheads in Milan and the Fronte Skinheads in the Veneto region
of North-East Italy (Il Manifesto 6.5.93).
IRR European Race Audit no 4 1993. Contact: Liz Fekete, Institute
of Race Relations, 2-6 Leeke Street, London WC1X 9HS. Tel: ++ 071
837 0041
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