IG/FacebookThe local authority in Pontoglio, Italy approved the new signs warning people to respect traditions
Signs
were put up at the entrance to Pontoglio, near Brescia in the Lombardy
region of northern Italy, stating those who abide by their “Christian
traditions” are welcome.
But the centre-Right council behind the move has come under fire- being labelled racist.
The
signs state the town, known in local dialect as Pontoi, is a beacon of
“Western culture and deep Christian traditions” and warned: “Those who
do not intend to respect local culture and traditions are invited to
stay away.”
Of the town's 7,000 inhabitants, 1,160 or 16 per cent are foreign-born and many of them are Muslim.
They
include 238 Albanians, 203 Moroccans, 192 Romanians and 150 Indians,
many of whom have lived in Pontoglio for years and have families and
regular jobs.
“It
is an invitation to respect local culture and traditions,” he said.
“Ours is a culture based on mutual respect (for others).”
Paolo
Bocchi, a councillor, also denied that the signs were offensive.
“There’s nothing racist about them. This is just historical information –
this is our tradition,” he said.IG/Facebook
But
Laura Castelletti, the deputy mayor of nearby Brescia, said: “I thought
we lived in a secular country where there was no state religion.”
It
is not the first controversial step taken by the council. It recently
increased the cost for foreign-born residents of obtaining a local
identity document from €50 (£36) to €425.
The move was condemned as “discriminatory” by a local tribunal.
Lombardy is the stronghold of the Northern League, the Right-wing
party that is gaining support with its stridently anti-immigrant,
anti-refugee rhetoric.
That rhetoric has intensified since last month’s terrorist attacks in Paris.
Last week, Lombardy approved a ban on wearing the Islamic veil and burka in hospitals and local government offices.
Current
laws across Italy already prohibit helmets, clothing or any other items
that make identification difficult in public places without a
justifiable motive.
But the new legislation in Lombardy, which
comes into force on January 1, is the first time that an Italian region
has explicitly outlawed Islamic head wear.
story source
Saturday, 26 December 2015
Italian small town accused of being racist for telling Foriegners to respect local culture & heritage
We are looking for neither praise nor criticism – the message is very simple
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