This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/01/italy-investigate-racist-remarks-black-minister
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Italy to investigate racist remarks against first black minister | Italy to investigate racist remarks against first black minister |
| (8 days later) | |
| The Italian government has ordered an investigation into slurs on rightwing websites against the country's first black minister, a case that has put Italy's racial problems back under the spotlight. | The Italian government has ordered an investigation into slurs on rightwing websites against the country's first black minister, a case that has put Italy's racial problems back under the spotlight. |
| Cecile Kyenge, an eye doctor and Congo-born Italian citizen, was named integration minister in the new government of Prime Minister Enrico Letta on Saturday. She is one of seven women in the government. | Cecile Kyenge, an eye doctor and Congo-born Italian citizen, was named integration minister in the new government of Prime Minister Enrico Letta on Saturday. She is one of seven women in the government. |
| Since then, she has been the subject of taunts not only on neo-fascist websites but the butt of race-tinged remarks by a politician of the Northern League, which has been allied in the past with former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. | Since then, she has been the subject of taunts not only on neo-fascist websites but the butt of race-tinged remarks by a politician of the Northern League, which has been allied in the past with former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. |
| Equal opportunities minister Josefa Idem ordered an investigation by the National Anti-Discrimination Office into websites that called Kyenge a "Congolese monkey", "Zulu", "the black anti-Italian", and other slurs. | Equal opportunities minister Josefa Idem ordered an investigation by the National Anti-Discrimination Office into websites that called Kyenge a "Congolese monkey", "Zulu", "the black anti-Italian", and other slurs. |
| "I am doing this in my capacity as new minister for equal opportunities but above all as a woman," said Idem, 49, who is German-born but, like Kyenge, married an Italian man and took Italian citizenship. | "I am doing this in my capacity as new minister for equal opportunities but above all as a woman," said Idem, 49, who is German-born but, like Kyenge, married an Italian man and took Italian citizenship. |
| Idem, a former Olympics kayak champion, who, along with Kyenge is a member of Letta's Democratic party, condemned what she called "vile racist epithets" against her fellow female cabinet member. | Idem, a former Olympics kayak champion, who, along with Kyenge is a member of Letta's Democratic party, condemned what she called "vile racist epithets" against her fellow female cabinet member. |
| She said the slurs that appeared on some far-right websites violated laws prohibiting "instigation of racial hatred" and asked police to shut them down. | She said the slurs that appeared on some far-right websites violated laws prohibiting "instigation of racial hatred" and asked police to shut them down. |
| On Tuesday, the Northern League European parliamentarian Mario Borghezio caused a political stir when, in a reference to Kyenge, called Letta's coalition a "bonga bonga government". | On Tuesday, the Northern League European parliamentarian Mario Borghezio caused a political stir when, in a reference to Kyenge, called Letta's coalition a "bonga bonga government". |
| Speaking on a radio programme, he said Kyenge wanted to "impose tribal traditions" in Italy, and that Africans had "not produced great genes". | Speaking on a radio programme, he said Kyenge wanted to "impose tribal traditions" in Italy, and that Africans had "not produced great genes". |
| Lower house speaker Laura Boldrini condemned what she called "racist vulgarities" on websites and by "a politician". | Lower house speaker Laura Boldrini condemned what she called "racist vulgarities" on websites and by "a politician". |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |