The brutal murder of a woman — allegedly by a homeless immigrant — as she
returned home from shopping has brought to a head the simmering anger in
Italy over the arrival of tens of thousands of impoverished Romanians.
Giovanna Reggiani, 47, the wife of a naval captain, died last night after
being raped, beaten and thrown into a drainage ditch as she walked home in
the dark from a railway station in a suburb of Rome. Her assailant had
smashed her face into an unrecognisable pulp with a stone before leaving her
for dead, police said.
Nicolae Romulus Mailat, 24, who came to Italy from Transylvania four months
ago, was arrested at an immigrant bivouac of makeshift shacks on the Tiber
embankment near the station at Tor di Quinto. Police were alerted by a
Romanian woman who saw Mr Mailat returning to his shack covered in blood.
She flagged down a bus and asked the driver to call police. Mr Mailat
admitted robbing Ms Reggiani but denied raping her, police said.
The horrific attack has appalled Italians, who blame Romanian immigrants for a
wave of crime in the biggest cities since January, when Romania joined the
European Union, and now threatens to drive a wedge between two nations that
have a long history of cultural ties.
Romano Prodi, the Italian Prime Minister, telephoned Calin Popescu Tariceanu,
the Romanian Prime Minister, yesterday to demand urgent action to prevent
criminals from crossing the border. On Wednesday Mr Prodi chaired a Cabinet
meeting that approved a measure allowing police chiefs to expel EUcitizens
who posed a threat to public security, as well as immigrants from outside
the EU.
The measure, which would appear to contravene EU legislation on the free
movement of people from member states, was due to be debated in Parliament
within 60 days. Mr Prodi said yesterday that it would be imposed immediately
by decree. He said: “These acts must not be repeated. We are not acting out
of rage but we are determined to keep a high level of security for our
citizens.”
The furious reaction to the attack on Mrs Reggiani has exposed the anger felt
by many Italians at what they perceive to be the inability of authorities to
deal with a sharp rise in burglaries and assaults involving migrants from
Eastern Europe, particularly Romania. In a front-page editorial Il
Messaggero, the Rome daily, said “Our anger, frustration, fear and grief
cannot be underestimated. This atrocious and vicious attack goes beyond our
darkest imaginings, and is the direct consequence of excessive tolerance. We
have blindly accepted anyone who wanted to come to Italy. We should have
reacted much earlier.”
Corriere della Sera said that Romanians had “replaced Moroccans and Albanians
as Italians’ No 1 nightmare. The difference is that Romanians are now
Europeans like us.”
Walter Veltroni, the Mayor of Rome, said that Italy should have followed the
example of Britain and other EU countries in imposing immigration limits for
new EU members.
Mr Veltroni said that before Romania’s EU accession Rome had been one of the
safest cities in Europe. “These are not immigrants who came here to live,
but criminal types,” he said. Mr Veltroni said 75 per cent of street crimes
in Rome so far this year had been committed by Romanians, and there was a
“risk of xenophobia”.
Despite fears that Romanians would flood into Britain after their country
joined the EU, most have headed for Southern Europe, especially Italy,
because of affinities of language and culture. Cristian David, the Romanian
Interior Minister, called on his compatriots to “help the Italian
authorities combat crimes committed by our fellow nationals”. He said that
the majority of Romanians were honest, and a “criminal minority” should not
be allowed to damage the image of Romania as a whole.
In the past 18 months Romanians have been responsible for 76 murders, more
than 300 rapes and 2,000 robberies in Italy, according to police statistics.
Nearly 400 Romanians have been charged with kidnappings, mostly involving
prostitution, and 6,000 with receiving stolen goods.
Concern that Bulgaria and Romania were let into the EU too soon means that
most Balkan countries will have to wait at least a decade before they can
join, officials in Brussels said yesterday. The slow pace of judicial reform
in Bucharest and Sofia created a backlash against rapid membership.
A progress report on EU applicants will paint a damning picture of political
and judicial corruption, The Times understands. The draft report, due to be
published on Tuesday, covers the three official candidate countries –
Croatia, Turkey and Macedonia – as well as the potential applicants Albania,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and the breakaway Serbian province of
Kosovo.
In numbers
2 million Romanians live abroad, 10 per cent of the country’s
population
1 in 2 of those is in Italy or Spain
€114 monthly minimum wage in Romania, a tenth of that in the UK
Sources: Eurostat, Euromonitor
Gypsies (Rroma) are not the same with Romanian. They originated from India. Gypsies represented 2% of the Romanian population in 1989. Criminality in Romania decreased 10 times since they left the country. Romanians thank Italians for having them and they do not want them back.
CS, NYC,
As a young man years ago I was in Bolzano, Italy with my girlfriend and saw an old lady in rags holding out her hand while clutching a small, dirty child in the other. I placed a 5,000lira note in her hand as she stared off into space, not even acknowledging my presence. As we continued on I saw her out of the corner of my eye frantically motioning to someone across the street. I sensed somthing was up and sure enough, I noticed we were being followed by two swarthy characters in cheap suits. I was now a "mark" as they say and fair game. We made a right turn into an alley and ran a few steps. I stopped, spun around just as the two quickly entered the alley. They hurried toward me as I got in a uechi ryu stance, preparing to bring violence upon them. They stopped 4 meters away from me, looking confused for a second and left in a hurry. At that time, I had no idea what a gypsy was. I've since many encounters with them and even have the joy of them being my next door neighbors, Hooyaa!
Ken Totty, Salem, USA, N.H.
No wonder the Romanian Politicians were so eager to get Romania into the EU. It gave them, at a stroke, a chance to drastically improve their crime figures and at the same time, get rid of a huge cause of the crime, in the form of the Roma. No matter that they would then infest the rest of the EU and push up crime figures. Don`t you think we`ve got enough of the world`s detritus in this country already.
Brian , Lincoln, England
We are seeing the river Tiber floaming loads of blood it seems...
Marco, Venice,
I am against any open-border policy which threatens society, either by large volumes of immigrants, or an influx of undesirables and criminals. AND DON'T CALL ME A RACIST!!!
The most condescending argument I've heard is from some rich people who say it will provide them with cheaper cleaners! I ask you!
Russell Tilling, Bournemouth, Dorset
This policy is complete chaos - yes we appreciate cheap polish builders, but the reality is the numbers of immigrants currently in western Europe are unsustainable on housing, education and medical systems - and that is the more desirable immigrants. Romanian gypsies are renoun throughout Europe as a large source of street crime.
Also as an ex-pat Australian - please Ausies shutup!!
Australia has one of the toughest immigration policies in the world - you have the most controlled immigration in the world, you lock up illegals in camps the desert and have borderline racist political campaigns about the trivial numbers of imigrants who do manage to get in...!
So your high-minder opinions on mass migration from the poorest countries of Europe would have relivence if Australia opened its door to regional Asia for free immigration..
something I dont see any time soon..!
The numbers in Europe are an order of magnitude different...and have no comparison in Australia's
recent past.
Marm, London, UK
To Mustapha Stokely, US: I am nothing against the entry of Turkey in the UE, because the Turkish immigration goes to Germany and because Turkey is a strong country and could be useful for the UE to have an ally like Turkey. For me it is not a problem is Turkish are Muslims, if they accept our values. I am also happy if Israel joins to the UE. The UE must be a political Union to defend western European interests in the world. The UE must be directed by the strongest west European countries and establishes different relationships with the countries who want to join with Europe. The mistake was to give all the new east entries the EU passport. Before to give an European passport people must show to deserve it.
As concerns Italy I wish remember that the bill of exchange was invented by Florentine bankers and Italian immigrations begin at the end of the 19th century and the begining of the 20th century and at the end of the WW2 when Italy lost the war.
Lisa, Pisa, Italy
Less than 100 years ago Italian immigrants were looked upon in America with suspicion. That even led to limits in the 20 's of immigrants that can come to USA. Mafia, was an Italian invention, completely strange to American anglosaxon protestant way of life. Yet, most of the Italian immigrants were not part of it. The poorest , the ones coming from parts of Italy were crime was a rule were more likely to commit crimes, as that is all they new.
Same is today. Even in the USA, crimes are committed by the very poor. By far members of the single race are perpertrators in most of the cases.
The ones likely to immigrate from Romania are the poorest, criminals and so on. Regular Romanian, despite the lower salary is unlikely to immigrate, and even less likely to commit a crime.
One has to wait, for the East to catchup with the west, the same way Italy caught up not too long ago. Then, criminals would remain a domestic problem, much like Mafia is currently mainly Italian preoccupation.
Ian, Cleveland, USA
It was a big mistake to open the EU to Romania and Prodi didn't take any measure to delay the immigration to Italy of these uncivilized people. Prodi and Veltroni are guilty.The EU is only an union amongst different Europeans nations born for economic and political reasons. The EU is not a superstate nor a nation and and could work only with very few states.
Lisa, Florence, Italy
I think it's absolutely unjust and very dangerous to consider all Romanian immigrants in Italy as potential criminals or, worst, murderers. A portion of Italian people and a lot of Italian politics are becoming racists consciously or unconsciously. Their racism needs new arguments, and the brutal death of Giovanna Reggiani is one of this. This fact helps them to reinforce their ideas and convictions which consider immigration all negatively beyond the real lives of immigrants. We Italians have no more memory of our emigration in USA or in Germany end we don't remember as we were considered by Americans and Germans: more animals than men. The price of this consideration was paid by all Italian immigrant in USA and we nowadays were very often considered as authentic "Mafiosi" for the actions of a small group of Italians of America known as Mafia members.
It is required a serious reflection about problems connected with immigration and it is necessary to support a real immigration politic by annulment of Bossi-Fini law and suppression of CPT (Centres of temporary sojourn), places in which are segregated confusedly honest immigrants, people asking right of sanctuary and criminals.
Sostine Cannata, Messina, Italy
The crime rate has gone up in Italy while it has decreased in Romania - thought the report would pick up on that.
A more accurate description of these people would be Romany/Gypsy. There are alot of non Rommany Romanians in Italy who work hard and are exploited by Italians. I've never seen a Romanian begging in Milan but have seen loads of ROM kids begging and stealing near the central station.
"Italian immigrants have always been notorious for criminality." - YES in the USA. But as a percentage of population there are more itals in Australia, Brazil, Argentina and sizeable and older immigrant pops in UK, Canada than in the USA
I have never heard of the mafia in these countries. I think that has more to do with the American way than italian immigration
Bob, London,
I would like to express my sorrow regarding these murders done by gipsies like barbarians.Dear conationals do not stand up for these barbarians anymore!Are you not fed up with being seen like criminals in the UE when you know very well what are our roots and caracter?Are you not fed up with being accused of racism? We are too tolerant with them dear Romanian authorities.Why Romanians who have a job there, who might have relatives in Romania which depend on their salaries, to suffer discrimination due to these murderers?
The irony is that the last one, Romulus, bears the same name like one of the twins who founded Rome.
Bogdan, Bucharest, Romania
Rome is a wonderful city, and the Italians have welcomed my two daughters, who study at the American University there, with open arms. I am visiting now in Rome, and hope that the Italians are quite strong in their response to the recent atrocities against Italian citizens by immigrants. Gypsy camps are prevalent, and I live in fear that my two daughters will be accosted going to and from school. Italians are wonderful, the immigrant situation is horrific. Good luck Italy in cleaning up the issue! I am impressed with your strength in going against EU policy --- sovereignty and nationalism should still hold precedents over an economic union of seperate states.
BJS, Jackson, USA/Mississippi
The Romanian killer of Rome was not illegaly in Italy: he had a work and and a legal permission to stay in Italy. Italy is under a wave of immigration, it's like an invasion. The problem is not only Italian, but European one, because from Italy these immigrants can go everywhere. The Romanians are Europeans and can go everywhere in Europe. This is the price we pay to an European Union unable to defend western Europeans. Italy was one of the few states who resisted to immigration: now we are like the others. What happened in Rome happened in Paris with the burning of the banlieues and in London with the attack of the 7/7. It's only the beginning.
Lisa, Pisa, Italy
Davide from Rome, Italy: Have you ever been to Turkey? You may find your biased views challenged, if you actually ventured to travel there! At any rate, your personal prejudice is quiet clear.
Why don't you try searching for "Istanbul," "Bodrum," "Antalya," etc., in YouTube.com, to see if Turkey entirely fits your biased views...
Remember this: just as you have your own condescending views towards Turkey, others too, (for example, from Northern Europe,) may also have such views towards Italy and Italians.
Personally, I like Italy and the Italians and I prefer to judge folks on their own merits and not through prejudices and personal biases.
Mustapha Stokely, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States
We western European have this EU because we are weak: what is happening would be unthinkable in 19th century when Europe was strong. The real problem is we are just a satellite of the US and some stupid European élites believed to make an European superstate like the US, but we are geographically very different from the US. We need an European Union, not this Union open to everyone, and first we need an European army made by the strongest western European country.
Lisa, Pisa, Italy
To Mircea:
The Italians criminals of Duisburg must be judge by German judge and I hope they be condamned. Anyway, the mafia is criminal but they don't kill poor women coming home in Germany for the pleasure to kill them. Mafia is business and criminal lobby and attacked an Italian restaurant because they didn't want to make business with mafia.
Lisa, Pisa, Italy
And Gordon Brown doesn't / can't even count immigrants coming into the UK
jj, Cambs, UK
Of the 6 cases of driving offenses recently reported under Court Proceedings in my local Irish newspaper, 3 involved Eastern European foreigners (Latvia, Poland and Romania). These are the real figures, not "spinnable" for the government.
I think it is easy to imagine the backlash this creates against all foreigners.
Samuel Young, Paris, France
To Paul Wey:
Maybe you don't know, but lots of Italians immigrants went abroad to work hard, some of my relatives did this, they were not part of some criminal organization but poor people looking for a better world.
I respect immigrants who come to Italy to work honestly, but if they commit any crime, they should be sent away, back to their country. We welcome honest people,not criminals.
Giulia, Pavia, Italy
There are many positives resulting from immigration from the former communist countries into the UK. I expect that the same is true of Italy or Spain. We have received a generally well-educated, highly motivated and law abiding population, a much younger demographic than our own.
My own area of west London has received a large number of Poles. They vary from skilled and hard working hairdressers, builders, teachers and dentists, to beautiful escorts girls and I imagine a small number of criminals.
Any immigrant population must be judged as a whole, not on one incident, however shocking.
Alan Limbury, London, UK
why you don't say nothing about the drugs from english school?
dan, geneva,
As a Brit living in Spain where Rumanians now seem to be the most active street-criminals, I see immigration from both sides. Yes, EEC Borders should be open , but poorer economies should be wetnursed first , infrastructure supported from without, before all membership advantages be accrued to them...free movement of persons, etc
James McNulty, Mijas,Malaga, Spain
It would be very interresting to see how the Italians comment the crimes done by the fellow Italians in Germany, for example. They have the same violent nature, they resulted in more than one victim and yet, they are not facing the same attitude from the German government.
Mircea, Constanta, Romania
It is truly sickening that so many people have chosen to use the comments page on this story to lecture others on the ALLEGED "merits" of mass immigration and the multicultural society. They are clearly more concerned about the image of immigrants rather than the welfare of women. These are the same people that don't want us to have a referendum on the EU constitutional treaty - fanatics who hate democracy and hate Britain especially. Let us remember that a woman (and she isn't the first) has been brutally murdered in the most degrading way because of loony leftist policies. Any other potential criminals from the east reading these comments will feel safe that an army of spineless crackpot liberals will defend whatever criminal actions they wish to take. These leftist fanatics that are responsible for the destruction of border controls and democracy as well as making the criminals into the "victims" are the ones who are to blame for all of these kind of crimes.
J Mathers, Bristol, England
The quick-acting of the Italian government makes me proud of being Italian...
but now let's all take 1 minute and think of what would happen if Turkey is allowed to join the EU..
Davide, Rome, Italy
It is wrong to tar romanians and gypsies with the same brush.. we must use two brushes and big ones at that!
Elwin parsley, london , UK
Dear Italy, welcome to Romania’s problems... we have confronted them over 17 years… and the government does nothing also. The gypsy’s problem is very old in Romania and we have many more happening here that happened there. Not that I am defending them… God Forbid… I wish they would all disappear... In Romania is the same xenophobia as Italy is going through now we are afraid to walk on the streets late at night because we are afraid some gypsy could kill us, rob us, rape the woman etc. Unfortunately here the justice wants money … not justice… But the thing is... how come are you the ones to judge us? And why the Romanian people?
You should read the Romanian papers and watch the Romanian news… they are all over it… starting with the politicians… But you can’t judge us... you know why? Here is why: how about the crimes you cause to your selves? How about the drugs and the prostitution you have going on there, made and sold by yourselves to yourselves? Or you thought you were clean? I think all of this is just one more excuse to kill and fight. And how can you be so sure the Romanian gypsy killed and raped that woman? Were you there? Did you ever stop to think that maybe this was a setup? Maybe someone from Rome was tired of the gypsy camps and decided that it was time to start a war... someone like those two kids that when being asked about the four Romanian man that were beat up last night, by a reporter declared that it was time to do that, to take justice in they’re own hands because the government does nothing.. That coming from two Italians… What do you think about that? I think as someone said in a comment... we should all calm down... otherwise... I don’t know what will come out of this. I am sorry if I offended anybody but this is what I think…
Adriana, Bucharest, Romania
The problem is not the Romanians, in general very respectable , honest people, the problems is the Gypsy Romanians. The Romanians do also have a problem with them but instead of keeping them in their country , they have no problem with them emigrating to Spain or Italy. Now in Spain we have enough trouble with our Spanish gypsies and really we can't cope with people like the gipsy Romanians who literally piss on the street without the police being able to do anything , beg the streets using very young children and worst crimes like robbing houses, vandalism, assasinations, etc. The Spanish gypsies in the same situation as the gypsies from Romania are not sent over to France, England or Germany for those countries to provide for them, they remain in Spain and it's our problem to deal with them as they are our country men and women. The Romanian goverment should do the same as it's giving a really bad reputation to an otherwise nice country with intelligent , honest, civilized people.
Marta, Lleida,
Hi to all
First
If I come to visit or stay with you, in your house, I MUST respect the rules of your house. If I cannot do so, I may not ask you to allow me to continue to stay, i.e. I have to leave at once/you are fully entitled to ask me to do so.
Second
If you see me ill, with a disease clearly putting your health in danger, it's only normal not to allow me to enter. Actually, the manager of the health system from my hometown should take care to keep me there (in my house or in a hospital from my town) until I am cured and represent no danger for the others.
These are basic rules which should be applied by everyone, everywhere.
By all politicians, from all EU countries.
So I see no reason to claim/to pretend that a discrimination is being made agaist those who show that they do not fit into the mattrix of the country they chose to go to.
Does any Romanian politician dissent with me ?
Dumitru Petre, Bucuresti, Romania
The Romanian people never asked to join EU... as I recall they were very upset that the government was so happy that the treaty was signed... we did not asked for this we were happy just the way we were.
The politicians have always made what they wanted... the people was never asked.. and I am not talking only about Romania here.. if you know what I mean..
Adriana, Bucharest, Romania
Italy and Spain were the two safest countries in the EU; now unfortunately this is changing and it is sad to say that the fault has to be seen in the immigrants specially from eastern Europe (Albania and Romania specifically, the poles and ukranians are usually much better behaved and well integrated).
It is terrible because the romanians itself are nice people but a good number of their criminals have moved to richer countries not to find work but to pursue their criminals intent where there is more money.
I really hope for the 99.9% of good romanians and albanians that this does not escalate; something has to be done in thier countris of origin or otherwise the spanish and italians will have to react on thier own terms and that is going to be sad and miserable.
The EU has to do something about this; letting in Romania at this stage was to early.Their goverment is not ready to stop at the borders the dangerous and this is affecting those who are just trying to live a better life
Andrea, Rome, Italy
Wasn't that murderer a gypsy? Why do you hide that part of the story.? Generally speaking, Romanians do not appreciate being called Roma or Gypsy or Tzigan. I am sure Italians would not, either.
Italian journalists and politicians must be well aware that the vast majority of the 'Romanian' criminals are in fact gypsies (they call themselves Roma, isn't that ironic?!) holding Romanian passports.
I think it is unfair to accuse Romanians for Gypsy crimes.
My suggestion: instead of shipping the Roma people back to Romania, a very poor country and a young democracy, the rich countries of the EU should come up with a plan to help the Roma come out of their wrong habits and educate them to become valuable EU citizens.
Romania does not have the means to deal with such a burden, and sending the unwanted gipsies to Ro is just sweeping the problem under the carpet, knowing that RO was not able to help them in the past, and nothing about that has changed lately.
Dan, Toronto, Canada
In a democracy passports should not specify the ethnicity of a person. Hence, it should rightly not be possible to distiguish gipsies from other Rumanian, when they go to another country. Likewise, how could it be enacted a provision that regards them only and singles out Roma from Rumanian? Like it or not (I like it), this is the result of development, all of which should not be trashed now. Laws do exist and should just be applied. We do not need special provisions. The suspect had been convicted and should have been in jail. Had it been so, poor Mrs. Reggiani would still be alive.
I shall also inform you that my maid is Rumanian. She has the keys of my home and I am often abroad for work. Perhaps I am mad, but I trust her. She is a widow who came to Italy in search of a better life. She found it and is happier now.
We do not need any hate campaign or emotional laws. We exported millions of emigrants. We need to pay less pensions, build jails and keep known criminals in it.
Carlo, Milan,
Surprise surprise another country being ruined by immigrants.
Matt , gillingham, England
I am astounded that no one foresaw that opening up Europe would cause huge migration of people and bring out the xenophobia hidden in all of us. I think EU legislation has been irresponsible and overly idealistic. It would be good to see someone in Brussels open their over-educated middle class eyes and stop pretending the immigration issue is about to blow up in their faces. Any immigration policy, when well handled can work well, the EU just needs to make one first.
Frances Roberson, Croydon,
It is a shame that crime is committed by so many immigrants, because it tars all with the same brush. Reading Spanish newspapers, the same happens there, but remember immigrants form part of the best and the worst, the best take their opportunities and you don't hear from them, the worst also take their opportunities and those are who make the headlines. May be Eastern European countries were not ready to joint EU, but globalization has much to answer for.
Mercedes, Sydney, Australia
No doubt that the crime is horrendous and that each country should have the right to deport criminals. The criminal in this case had a criminal record in Romania so it would be better not to allow people with a criminal record the right to travel in the EU. At the same time don't forget that this crime is so big news because is being politicized. There are almost 1 million Romanians working in Italy. The vast majority of them ( more than 99,9%) are honest people, trying to make a living as the Italians were doing in Germany in the 50's or 60's. That said I am sorry for what happened, it just makes our image even worse. I'm Romanian, currently studying in London.
Paul, London, Uk
Romania is really under a lot of pressure. I am a Romanian emigrant who left about a decade ago and returned to visit this summer for the first time. I left it greatly concerned for what is going on, and after some thought about it, I think the best literary allusion that came to my mind is the piece of advice that the doctor of the Belgian company give to the new recruit of the latter in "Heart of Darkness," before the recruit would head to the Tropics: " above all, keep your calm."
georg von staubenberg, seattle , WA, USA
Welcome, I'm Giorgio Molteni, from Milan, Italy.
I kept in ouch, in the last 15 years, with many cultures as a richness. I work as a designer and an architet, and it's so easy to consider yourself and people working with you as "citizens of the world". I use to talk about "where have you been" instead of "where do you come from". And you know what I mean.
I'm scared about last facts. On a side, politicians and an easy public opnion can ride a xenofobian time, with no rules and no rights for the ones who were in our country respcting rules and laws. On the other, Romanian problem with Gipsies has been just moved to other countries like Italy and Spain. And I think Italy is not prepared to afford an immigration flux like that, with no work and warranties at all. The final issue is: what Europe is made for? To face common troubles, or to judge other counries as not capable to deal with the big problem? Sorry if I made mstake, sincerely yours, Giorgio.
Giorgio, milano, Italy
I'm in Romania currently working with social "outcasts"- convicts, orphans, Roma, and psychologically challenged children.
A large percentage of "impoverished immigrants" from Romania are of Roma (commonly known as gypsy) origin. It was indeed a Roma (gypsy) who committed this horrific crime and perhaps that fact was only publicised here, in Romania. Roma have a very differently evolved culture, traditions and beliefs, many of which are beautiful, wonderful, and fascinating. However, there are rather uncomfortable truths surrounding unemployment statistics of Roma, education of Roma, and living conditions regarding Roma. I am not being prejudice, just stating what research shows...there are child marriages. Generalising a nation of amazingly warm and hospitible people due to a minority does not do Romania justice.
I believe the problem lies at the grass roots, at the culture that spawns crime committing individuals. And crucially, the children of the future. They need an education.
Amelia Handy, Timisoara, Romania
As citizen of the world I am horrified at the fate this poor woman has met. As an American of Romanian decent I am amazed at the narrow and prejudiced view the citizens of the EU have taken. Perhaps you should round up all the Romanians in the world and keep them under lock and key just as they were prior to December, 1989. I always looked to Europe as a beacon of humanity, a society that cared for its citizens. Perhaps this is an opportunity to look at Romania and other "Eastern European" countries and be part of the solution instead of turning your backs and kicking your fellow citizens to the curb. When you live in a glass house.........
Mar, San Francisco, USA
I live in Italy, here racism against migrants is rife, especially against the Roma ethnic minority. The Italian media have great responsibility for that since are always mounting hate campaign, screaming the nationality or the ethnicity of those who commit an offence if they are non Italians, on the front page. Many Roma people who work here are forced to hide their ethnicity unless they get sacked or don't even manage to get a job. Anti-discrimination laws are scant or non-effective. Italian newspapers when advertise for a job or for a tenant often specify "no-foreigners need apply" without getting sanctioned. Can you imagine that in the Uk? That would surely amount to race discrimination.
Romanians are Italy biggest ethnic minority and therefore is quite obvious that they would be more represented among those of foreign nationality who commit crimes.
Still we need to remember that over 90 % of violent crimes against women are the responsibility of their present or former partners, which in Italy are overwhelmingly of the same nationality of the victim, Italian.
This particular crime has been used to pass an extremely tough law against European Union migrants which i believe has no equals in any other European Union country!
Xenophobia is not a risk, but a fact of daily life for ethnic minorities.
I don't know where that statistics is taken from, but even if is true, 2000 cases of robberies out of a total population of over ONE MILLION of Romanians who are currently living and working in Italy , doesn't seem to me nor a cause to worry nor a justification for the hate campaign
Let's remember where the stigmatization of a single ethnic group as the cause of all evils has taken us in the recent past. Already tonight in Rome 10 armed Italian right wing youths have attacked and sent to hospital some Romanian citizen who were socializing in the car park of a supermarket.. I am afraid for this country and its fragile democracy....
Generalizing the behaviour of some individuals to all the ethnic group it's racism!
Roman, Rome,
Italians probably hate all immigrants right now...which is rational at this point. Because the vicious nature of this crime needs a face so as to be reckoned with...and unfortunately that face is Romania.
The European continent is divided, it probably will be into eternity. The "West" has no respect for the "East," and the "East" has no respect for the "West." That is why all Romanians, for a while now, will be viewed upon as dangerous, which is a ridiculous notion (no offense Italy). Don't get me wrong, this crime is despicable and horrid, but had a fellow "Westerner," a Brit, committed it, it would have been old news by today.
The EU is a formality, a process to gain wealth, nothing more nothing less. There is no "union" in that kind of agreement.
Aleks, Beograd, SRB
Romania is multicultural. In Norway, the people from Romania who beg all seem to bee gypsy. I think that this article is hiding something.
Ola Dunk, Oslo,
Another stupid idea from politicians, if they had asked the people if these countries should be allowed into the EU then they would have got the sensible answer, I used to say that anyone who goes into a deal with the Italians, Spanish or Greeks will be out of pocket, to put it politely and we were, now the chickens have come home to roost and the Spanish and Italians are getting the just deserts.
Dave Madley, Alicante, Spain
Is it too much to ask that the authorities in the UK are given the names of those expelled from Italy (if it happens) so that they are prevented from starting again here?
Derek, Slough, UK
Letter to the editor
Dear Sir,
I read with attention the article and, intentionally, an important thing has been omitted: the criminal is a GIPSY with Romanian passport.
You can not accuse all the Romanians for the criminal activities of the gipsies. Romania in not a savage country. Ask the British executives living in Romania, the British diplomats or the military commanders from Iraq and Afghanistan where we have troops. I know very well that you won't do that and you won't publish this opinion as well.
Speaking about Italians you should not forget about Mafia, N'Draghetta, etc and about the heroic behaviour of the Italian troops in Iraq, North Africa (WW II) etc.
calin, Bucharest, Romania
In my view Rome has changed a lot these last years. While before the problem was just for the suburbs, now it is getting worse and worse even in the city centre.Practically talking, we cannot take any public transports or trains from 8pm. The place where the woman has been killed is not that bad place, i mean..it is quite near to the reachest part of the city.You can't take a bus coming back home from a night in a disco in the centre because you don't feel safe.That's horrible.They live in every part of the city,some stops of the metro are disgusting.We know we have police somewhere..yes but where?just imagine in the night (from 8pm to 6am) i'd never take the train from the airport to the centre..and i'm talking about every kind of transports.We just feel ok in our cars at all.Our politic is takling so much about this problem and doing nothing.They should not be allowed to do everything they want.I think there'll be 'wars' in my city,soon.COME&SEE!ps:fortunately we still have monuments
eugenio, ROMA, ITALY
So now the Romanians have replaced the Chileans as No 1 suspects for muggings and roberies
Suuri Suomi, London, UK
regardless of nationality, the simple fact is that politicians in every country in Europe promote such behaviour as displayed by this particular subhuman in their lenient sentencing of violent crimes. Politicians must learn to admit that not all human beings are capable of understanding morality and that instead they must be hanged or guillotined.
Marco, Birmingham, uk (until December)
So if the Italians can deport undesirables in spite of EU law, why can't we in the UK do the same?
tony, birmingham, uk
because the Italians have balls.
(just in case anyone misunderstands me, it is specifically British POLITICIANS i am saying have no balls, not British citizens)
Marco, Birmingham, uk (until December)
Maybe Brown could learn something from Italy's action, forget about the criminals human rights, the government has an obligation to protect the indigenous citizens of the UK. All immigrants, migrants and asylum seekers who have a criminal past or commit crimes whilst in the UK should be deported without appeal. Access to our legal aid system should only be for those who are challenging a deportation and have not commited crimes. It is time to take back control of our own borders, the uncontrolled influx from EU and non-EU countries must be stopped before our infrastructure and tolerance break down completely
Les, Southport, England
If immigrants are living rough on the streets of any country they should be deported. The host country can let them live rough there. The EU constitution has bullied it's legislation onto member states and as a result the populations of the founder members find themselves having to conform to laws imposed upon them. The recent bottle-out by Brown on the EU referendum is further evidence that the loony left intelligencia consider the opinions of the population worthless. They will continue to drive their own agenda forward so that Bair can become head of the European State. This was the trade off to Brown, and the only reason he was allowed to become an unelected head of state.
It is time that the UK unifies behind a party that questions European directives rather than rolls over and accepts them, this ultimately dilutes sovereignty and our law making.
KICK LABOUR OUT AND LEAVE THE EU.
John E Heron, Durham, UK
In answer to Kate Playford, the answer is no. But then we (the people - not the governments) have never had a vote on it!
Lee, London,
I spent two weeks travelling around Romania and found the Romanian people decent and honest, and, in a number of cases, at pains to distance themselves from the large Gypsy communities who live, separately, in Romania and who plainly have a very different culture, outlook and way of life. It would be wrong to tar all Romanians with the same brush.
Equally, host nations should never feel that they have to suffer the bad behaviour of foreign nationals, and the decree from the Italian Government is an excellent start. The British Government should follow suit and take vigorous action to deny entry to or deport foreign nationals (EU or otherwise) who are in any way not conducive to the public good or lack the means to support themselves.
St G, London,
If the EU does not stop this stupidity that allows for unrestricted free movement of citizens between country there will be riots as the angry and helpless frustration felt by so many boils over. This stupid EU experiment is getting out of control and the political elite are railroading through unpopular directives which are fueling and building up very bitter resentment.
D Case, Newquay,
Intresting, this could the be Italian Factortame.
Perhaps we may see a similar political develpment in other parts of Europe, including Greece and Germany which have had a large influx of migrants.
George K, Norwich, norfolk
I thought the EU was about the free movement of labour - not the free movenent of criminals.
Send him here - we take in all the nutters. A house will be provided and no doubt he'll be driving around soon in an uninsured car.
Phil, Preston,
maybe romania is so safe because all their criminals (and those from other eastern european countries, which should never have been allowed into the eu) have emmigrated to western europe. send them back!!!
rudy, london,
Italian immigrants have always been notorious for criminality.
Talk about the pot and kettle.
Paul Wey, London, England
Interesting how it has suddenly become ok in the UK to speak about the 'criminal incoming element' when this 'element' is white European. We in the immigrant community have been discussing the lax attitude or authorities to 'incoming criminals,' especially lack of deportations, for years. Crime affects everyone and any foreigner commiting a crime in a host courty should be deported - the citizens of any country should be protected. The lax attitude foments discontent, until the anger boils over and people start turning on 'honest taxpaying' immigrants like me.
Merivel, London,
Except for oddball lefties, greedy bottom of the barrel employers ,and other cranks with some sort of 'agenda '- the whole accession of Romania,Bulgaria,Poland et al has been a disaster.The jolly old British would not of course articulate this verbally...but by God that is what most are thinking if the truth be known.
antony Graham, southport, England
Finally a good measure to contrast the increasing wave of violence and crime in Italy committed for 75% by Romanians!!! And these are just the recorded crimes,but for sure they are much more.I hope I could go out in the future again without being scared as 2-3 years ago, before Romanians and all other immigrants flown to Italy and began all sorts of crimes. We have been too much tolerant, we have helped them with social welfare, education, housing, etc and now it is what we get: increasing crime and incredible violence.This is the right answer, Italy is not a land of conquest.
Mariagrazia, Brescia, Italy
EU - Clay and iron.
kay, London,
To Mid J: pleased don't get carried away with '10% of Romania now lives abroad'. Recent figures released by the Institute for Public Policy Research indicate the figure for the UK is about the same with at least 5.5 million UK born Brits living in other countries - a figure that probably includes both of us.......If you want to blame something for this mass movement of people try globalization rather than the EU.
Simon, Fagaras, Romania
So if the Italians can deport undesirables in spite of EU law, why can't we in the UK do the same?
tony, birmingham, uk
It is rather ironic that Romania itself is (in my experience) certainly one of the safer ‘western world’ countries to live in. Violent crime, even in the capital Bucharest, is rare. Female friends have commented that they feel much safer at night than they do in most other UK or US cities. Stereotypes of nationalities are often created by the tragic incidents described in the article – but it would be fair to say that they in no way reflect the true Romanian character or represent the behaviour of your average Romanian citizen.
Simon, Fagaras, Romania
This is not just about the EU--it is about the rule of law. These changes to the Italian legal system are being done by decree, where people will be 'kicked' out without a trial...do we have to get into the potential for abuse?
Individuals who commit a crime should be tried in that jurisdiction, Italy in this case. This is not a problem that affects just Italy and the Romanians immigrating to southern Europe, it is an open question for every member of the EU.
I would also be interested in knowing how those crimes are recorded in Italy, and what biases affect the trial process.....
virgil, Toronto,
Did you really think the EU would work?
kate playford, Sydney, Australia
So Italy shares the same night mare as the rest of western Europe. The whole of western europe has been blighted by this curse, the EU.. In days long gone, when morality was rated more highly, Britain, was criticied for poaching people from other countries to fill vacancies here, ( UK) . I see now that 10% of Romania now lives abroad. Poland cannot be far behind! What is the EU doing to those countries ...destroying them, yes, but by another means ???? There can be only one result... chaos.
Mid J., Dong Pu, , China
Remember, at the time of this posting it is only ALLEGED the homeless immigrant killed this woman so let's not jump too hastily on the anti-migration bandwagon. Nevertheless, the general community's reaction in this tragic case is perfectly understandable and does beg the question - has this whole immigration 'system' been badly handled? I think we all know the answer to that, except perhaps those responsible for its implementation in the first place.
Colin Cumner, Adelaide, South Australia