Italy’s interior minister vows to set up ‘census’ on Roma population in the country

Summary:

Italian interior minister Matteo Salvini sparked controversy in June 2018 after calling for a census of the Roma community in the country that would lead to non-Italians being deported.

Further information:

His remarks on Roma were eventually rebutted by his fellow deputy prime minister, Luigi di Maio, who made clear that a census was unconstitutional. United Nations human rights official Birgit Van Hout condemned Mr Salvini's comments.

This controversy followed an earlier decision by Mr Salvini to refuse a rescue boat with over 600 migrants aboard. His government had only recently taken office, following a coalition agreement between the Northern League and the Five Star Movement.

BBC News, 19.06.18: Italian populist Salvini sparks row over counting Roma https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44531448

The Guardian, 19.06.18: Far-right Italy minister vows 'action' to expel thousands of Roma https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/19/italy-coalition-rift-roma-register-matteo-salvini

The New York Times, 19.06.18: Italian Minister Moves to Count and Expel Roma, Drawing Outrage https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/19/world/europe/italy-roma-matteo-salvini.html

The Local (Italy), 18.06.18: Italy to compile 'register' of Roma people: Matteo Salvini https://www.thelocal.it/20180618/italy-register-census-roma-people-matteo-salvini

The Independent, 19.06.18: Italy's far-right government announces 'census' and deportations of Roma traveller population https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/italy-matteo-salvini-roma-travellers-census-deportation-far-right-league-party-a8405951.html

CNN, 19.06.18: Italian interior minister's Roma census announcement causes outrage https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/19/europe/salvini-roma-census-italy-interior-minister-intl/index.html

Reuters, 29.06.18: Camp cleared as Italy's far-right puts spotlight on Roma community https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1JP1TB

[Opinion] The Guardian, 27.06.18: In Salvini’s Italy we Roma must renew the fight for our dignity https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jun/27/salvinis-italy-we-roma-fight-dignity

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