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| Widow of Nigerian man beaten to death in Italy granted refugee status | Widow of Nigerian man beaten to death in Italy granted refugee status |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| The wife of a Nigerian man beaten to death in Italy has been granted refugee status in Italy, as the country debates how society and lawmakers should respond to racism. | The wife of a Nigerian man beaten to death in Italy has been granted refugee status in Italy, as the country debates how society and lawmakers should respond to racism. |
| Italy’s interior ministry announced on Friday that Chinyery Emmanuel had been given asylum a day after her husband, Emmanuel Chidi Namdi, died from injuries sustained in the attack in Fermo, a small town in central Italy. | Italy’s interior ministry announced on Friday that Chinyery Emmanuel had been given asylum a day after her husband, Emmanuel Chidi Namdi, died from injuries sustained in the attack in Fermo, a small town in central Italy. |
| The couple had arrived in Europe from Libya last year, after reportedly fleeing the terrorist group Boko Haram in Nigeria, and were being hosted by the church community in Fermo. | The couple had arrived in Europe from Libya last year, after reportedly fleeing the terrorist group Boko Haram in Nigeria, and were being hosted by the church community in Fermo. |
| They were walking in the town on Tuesday when an Italian man allegedly called Namdi’s wife a “monkey”. The episode ended violently with Namdi falling into a coma and dying in hospital the next day. | They were walking in the town on Tuesday when an Italian man allegedly called Namdi’s wife a “monkey”. The episode ended violently with Namdi falling into a coma and dying in hospital the next day. |
| His wife has since been moved to alternative accommodation and is being cared for by a group of doctors and nuns. Speaking at a vigil for her husband, Chinyery Emmanuel said her life had been destroyed. | His wife has since been moved to alternative accommodation and is being cared for by a group of doctors and nuns. Speaking at a vigil for her husband, Chinyery Emmanuel said her life had been destroyed. |
| “God, where are you? Why do you leave me in this wicked world without Emmanuel? It’s very painful for me to stay,” she said. | “God, where are you? Why do you leave me in this wicked world without Emmanuel? It’s very painful for me to stay,” she said. |
| An autopsy is due to be carried out on Friday and Namdi’s funeral is expected to take place on Sunday in the town’s cathedral. | An autopsy is due to be carried out on Friday and Namdi’s funeral is expected to take place on Sunday in the town’s cathedral. |
| A local man, Amedeo Mancini, 39, has been arrested. His lawyer, Francesco De Minicis, said Mancini felt pained and regretful about the incident. | A local man, Amedeo Mancini, 39, has been arrested. His lawyer, Francesco De Minicis, said Mancini felt pained and regretful about the incident. |
| De Minicis said: “He said that he’s not a fascist. He’s a very simple guy. He’s not studied … He’s not a well-off person.” | De Minicis said: “He said that he’s not a fascist. He’s a very simple guy. He’s not studied … He’s not a well-off person.” |
| Paolo Calcinaro, the mayor of Fermo, said the town had a history of welcoming outsiders. He said: “This is a very calm place, from this point of view I’ve never come across racism. Now the community finds itself under the spotlight with negative publicity that is not justified.” | Paolo Calcinaro, the mayor of Fermo, said the town had a history of welcoming outsiders. He said: “This is a very calm place, from this point of view I’ve never come across racism. Now the community finds itself under the spotlight with negative publicity that is not justified.” |
| Recently church buildings have been hit by makeshift bombs, believed to be linked to the religious community hosting between 150 and 200 refugees and asylum-seekers. | Recently church buildings have been hit by makeshift bombs, believed to be linked to the religious community hosting between 150 and 200 refugees and asylum-seekers. |
| The mayor said Europe should do more to help Italy cope with the arrival of migrants, while at a local level it was important to be aware of any shift in attitudes. He said: “We must open our eyes and pay attention to every possible sign of an increase in racism.” | The mayor said Europe should do more to help Italy cope with the arrival of migrants, while at a local level it was important to be aware of any shift in attitudes. He said: “We must open our eyes and pay attention to every possible sign of an increase in racism.” |
| Cécile Kyenge, an MEP who was Italy’s first black minister, said the country was in need of a political and cultural change. “Politicians who express phrases which incite racism have a devastating effect on society. Perhaps they don’t realise, but they effect people, in their discourse at home, within their family, with friends,” she told the newspaper La Stampa. | Cécile Kyenge, an MEP who was Italy’s first black minister, said the country was in need of a political and cultural change. “Politicians who express phrases which incite racism have a devastating effect on society. Perhaps they don’t realise, but they effect people, in their discourse at home, within their family, with friends,” she told the newspaper La Stampa. |