This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7476413.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Italy fingerprint plan criticised | Italy fingerprint plan criticised |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| Italy's interior minister has sparked criticism with a proposal that would see police fingerprinting all members of the Roma community living in camps. | Italy's interior minister has sparked criticism with a proposal that would see police fingerprinting all members of the Roma community living in camps. |
| Roberto Maroni, of the anti-immigrant Northern League, said the move would guarantee that those with the right to stay could live in decent conditions. | Roberto Maroni, of the anti-immigrant Northern League, said the move would guarantee that those with the right to stay could live in decent conditions. |
| Those without that right, including children, would be sent home, he said. | Those without that right, including children, would be sent home, he said. |
| The UN Children's Fund (Unicef) has criticised the proposal, as have opposition MPs. | The UN Children's Fund (Unicef) has criticised the proposal, as have opposition MPs. |
| Mr Maroni said the fingerprinting of Roma - or Gypsy - people would include "children too, to avoid phenomena like begging". | Mr Maroni said the fingerprinting of Roma - or Gypsy - people would include "children too, to avoid phenomena like begging". |
| Since Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was returned to power in elections two months ago, his government has focused on law and order, says the BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome. | Since Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was returned to power in elections two months ago, his government has focused on law and order, says the BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome. |
| The blame for the rising crime has fallen on the Roma gypsy community and, in recent weeks, camps have been raided by police while others have been attacked and burnt by vigilante mobs, our correspondent adds. | The blame for the rising crime has fallen on the Roma gypsy community and, in recent weeks, camps have been raided by police while others have been attacked and burnt by vigilante mobs, our correspondent adds. |
| Stunned and concerned | Stunned and concerned |
| Opposition MPs said it was wrong to treat children as criminals. | Opposition MPs said it was wrong to treat children as criminals. |
| To respect all children's right to equality [Mr Moroni should] record all Italian children in the same way Vincenzo SpadaforaUnicef Italy | To respect all children's right to equality [Mr Moroni should] record all Italian children in the same way Vincenzo SpadaforaUnicef Italy |
| Rosy Bindi, who held the post of family minister in the centre-left government that was ousted in January, said the initiative was "unacceptable". | Rosy Bindi, who held the post of family minister in the centre-left government that was ousted in January, said the initiative was "unacceptable". |
| It would lead to an "ethnic register" that would "treat Roma children as if they were hardened criminals", she said. | It would lead to an "ethnic register" that would "treat Roma children as if they were hardened criminals", she said. |
| The head of Unicef Italy, Vincenzo Spadafora, said his organisation was "stunned and deeply concerned" by the proposal. | The head of Unicef Italy, Vincenzo Spadafora, said his organisation was "stunned and deeply concerned" by the proposal. |
| "We'd like to suggest to him (Mr Maroni) that to respect all children's right to equality he should record all Italian children in the same way," said Mr Spadafora. | |
| "Roma children are no different from other children. Moreover children cannot and should not be treated as adults." | "Roma children are no different from other children. Moreover children cannot and should not be treated as adults." |
| Meanwhile, Amos Luzzatto, the former president of Italy's Union of Jewish Communities, said the measure was a form of "ethnic surveying". | Meanwhile, Amos Luzzatto, the former president of Italy's Union of Jewish Communities, said the measure was a form of "ethnic surveying". |
| "You start like this then you move on to the exclusion from schools, separated classes and widespread discrimination," he said. | |
| Recalling how Jews, Roma and other minorities were targeted during Italy's years of fascism, he accused the country of having "lost its memory". |