Asylum seekers who have been left "for days without accommodation and abandoned without any assistance by public authorities" have been handed fines of up to €500 by municipal police in the northeastern city of Trieste, the NGO 'ICS – Consorzio Italiano di Solidarietà – Ufficio Rifugiati Onlus' said in a statement on Thursday, July 14.

The organization expressed "dismay" at the situation, calling the measures "abnormal and illegal".

'Basic rights'

ICS noted that these people "who are without accommodation, which should be a basic right under both domestic and European Union legislation, are not camping out for fun, but are in a state of need."

The organization stressed in the statement that, "according to the law, public officials have to verify the concrete circumstances they are dealing with and, if they don't recognize the existence of a state of need [which in this case is obvious], they offend a person who has already been abandoned, and humiliate their role, as well as that of the institution they represent."

'Dismay at the choices made by the municipality'

ICS also stated that it "expresses bewilderment at the great majority of political choices made by the current municipal administration in Trieste, given that the actions of public administrations, regardless of political orientation and without exceptions, should be aimed at safeguarding the fundamental rights of a person, which are protected by constitutional law, and never at abusing the weakest."

The NGO has said it will "support victims of the illegitimate sanctions in the appropriate courts."