Biracial Italian Citizens from Somalia Subjected to “Systemic Discrimination in Italy”

[Deeq A.]

The government of Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Italy, faces a crucial test about upholding the principle of equal opportunity for Italian citizens.

Rome (PP News Desk) — Nearly 32 years after the Italian expatriates fled Somalia following the collapse of the military regime, reports are emerging that mixed-race progeny born to Italian fathers and Somali mothers face discriminations in both public and private sector jobs. Their mixed-race extraction disadvantages them when it comes to applying for jobs or claiming pension.

The Italian government has allegedly been reluctant to address the systemic discrimination that drove many Italian citizens “to immigrate to USA, Canada and the United Kingdom to live with their immigrant uncles, aunts and cousins”, as Massimo (not his real name), told Puntland Post reporter in Rome three weeks ago.

Giorgio Marincola was an
Anti-Nazi Italian-Somali fighter.

The problems have become so widespread that government policies, put in place to ensure reintegration of Italian refugees from Somalia, have totally been bypassed by authorities, thanks in part to racist attitudes towards immigrants and refugees whipped up by some xenophobic politicians.

A committee set up by the victims of systemic discrimination is planning to lobby the Federal Government of Somalia to urge the Government of Italy to investigate allegations levelled against Italian authorities. Italy maintained the largest European expatriate community in Somalia where most departments of the Somali National University had used Italian as the medium of instruction. Last year, the Italian Government committed funds to the teaching of the Italian language and reintroduction of Italian language service of Radio Mogadishu.

© Puntland Post, 2022

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