“It’s sad to see that in Italy human beings are treated worse than animals”, writes Il Manifesto in reference to a video aired on Italian public television, which showed naked immigrants being sprayed with an anti-scabies treatment in the Lampedusa detention centre.
The video’s author, a Syrian detainee, alleges that men and women are forced to wait naked in the cold for the treatment, which is being administered to prevent skin diseases from spreading in the overcrowded facility. Italian prosecutors have launched an investigation into possible abuse, while the centre’s operators insist that the video is shown out of context and that migrants’ rights are respected.
EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström said the issue will be investigated, and threatened to withdraw immigration funding for Italy if inhumane treatment reports are confirmed.
Was this article useful? If so we are delighted!
It is freely available because we believe that the right to free and independent information is essential for democracy. But this right is not guaranteed forever, and independence comes at a cost. We need your support in order to continue publishing independent, multilingual news for all Europeans.
Discover our subscription offers and their exclusive benefits and become a member of our community now!