Bigotry mars return of Italy hostage who converted to Islam

A right-wing lawmaker in Italy was reprimanded Wednesdayafter he called a young Italian woman who converted to Islam while being heldhostage in Somalia a “neo-terrorist.”

Silvia Romano, 24, stepped off an Italian government jetSunday wearing the green hijab typical of Somali Muslim women.

   

She reportedly told prosecutors in Rome she converted freelyduring her 18-month kidnapping ordeal, which included being held captive bySomalia’s al-Shabab militants.

What should have been a joyful time for Romano and herfamily has been marred by displays of bigotry and intolerance in Italy, amajority Catholic country where racist incidents have grown amid anti-migrantsentiment.

Police were called to the Romano family home in Milan aftera glass bottle was thrown against the residence.

Negative comments on social media have focused on Romano’sdecision to convert to Islam, as well as her decision to volunteer in theremote part of Kenya where she was abducted in 2018.

The government has also been criticized for havingapparently paid a ransom to her captors.

Alessandro Pagano, a lawmaker from the anti-migrant LeagueParty, drew jeers and a reprimand from colleagues in the lower house ofparliament after he mentioned Romano while complaining about the government’srefusal to reopen churches during the coronavirus lockdown.

Pagano alleged there is a strong anti-religious bent inItaly’s current coalition government, adding and yet when a neo-terrorist comesback … His remark was an apparent reference to the decision by the Italianpremier and foreign minister to greet Romano at Rome’s Ciampino airport uponher return.

The acting president of the Chamber of Deputies, MaraCarfagna, quickly admonished Pagano, saying: Using the term ‘neo-terrorist’ isthoroughly improper, especially in this chamber.

Democratic Party lawmaker Emanuele Fiano went further,blasting Pagano for accusing a victim of a violent extremist group ofcommitting the crime of terrorism.

She was a prisoner of a band of terrorists! She was a prisonerof a band of terrorists! Fiano shouted.

Pagano defended himself, saying he quoted from a newspaper.

Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte was scathing about anyonetrying to politically exploit the young woman’s experience.

To whoever’s speculating about her, first become a23-year-old, kidnapped in Kenya, forced to walk nine hours a day, in a forest,by those with Kalashnikovs,” Conte replied when a reporter asked him about thevirulent campaign targeting Romano.

If you live through this experience, come back” andthen give an assessment.

Giuliana Sgrena, an Italian journalist kidnapped in Iraq in2005, said she also experienced a backlash after she was freed because anItalian agent was killed in a firefight during her rescue.

Obviously all the polemics begin when it’s a women who iskidnapped, she told Swiss radio RSI.

No one complains when ransom is paid for a man, or when aman goes to such places. But when it’s a woman, it’s that we went looking forit.

The Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, denounced theinhuman attacks on Romano and demanded that her detractors think instead abouthow much suffering she endured.

Silvia Romano’s freedom should have produced joy and nothingelse, the newspaper wrote Wednesday.

Instead, it is incredible the sequence of reactions andfilthy judgments that have rained down from every corner of the country thathave dissected what happened to this child, starting from her original choice.

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