ITALY: INTEGRATION WITH ARAB IMMIGRANTS DECLINES ***
(ANSAmed) - MILAN, JULY 11 - There is more fear and distrust
in Italian cities about immigrants identified as 'Arab', or
those coming from Islamic cultures.
With the drop of opinions in favour for granting these
immigrants the right to vote in local elections, a strong rise
in opposition to the construction of mosques, and a progressive
decline of those who see favourably the formation of mixed
couples. These are the results of a study carried out by the
Milan Chamber of Commerce in Milan, Bologna, Rome, Naples and
Palermo.
According to a representative sample of the population, the
opinions in favour of the opening of a new mosque fell to 28%
against 48% last year. The motivations of the 'no' are various:
according to 30% of those against "public money could be better
spent", 28% think that Islam is "a dangerous religion which
does not allow integration", 24% of those against clearly speak
of mosques as "gatherings of terrorists."
The favouring to granting the right to vote in local
administration for immigrants regularly present for 10 years is
in vertical fall in the Italian cities: in 2005 a total 63% were
in favour, last year 51%, in this year's polls only 28%. As many
as 60% of the people against the right to local elections vote
explain their position with the fact that "they don't have
Italian citizenship yet", 13% because the immigrants "are not
part of our system and of our society", 12% think that "they
are not perfectly integrated even after 10 years."
According to the research carried out on the occasion of the
forthcoming Euro-Mediterranean conference of Milan, scheduled
for Monday with the participation of Italian Prime Minister
Romano Prodi, among others, the opinions in favour of the 'mixed
couples' are also down: they were 72% in 2005, 68% last year,
now they are 52%. Moreover, half of the polled by CedCamera do
not point out what activity they would be ready to launch no
matter if the person is Italian or Arab and 25% say they have
major distrust compared to a year ago towards Muslim immigrants,
against 60% who do not reveal a different attitude and 1% who
say they have less distrust today as regards the 'Arabs.' The
fear of attacks is more clear: passing near crowded public
areas, such as train stations, underground stops or trade
centres, 54% of residents of Milan, Bologna, Rome, Naples and
Palermo say they feel less safe compared to a year ago, 22% feel
the same fears and 22% did not answer. Only 0.4% of the
residents of the five big cities say they feel more safe today
compared to a year ago.
2007-07-11 18:18