As concerns the issue of foreigners, the document reports that "Italy is the country with the highest rate of ignorance in the world on migration. Most Italians think that immigrants in the country account for 30 percent of the population instead of the actual 8 percent, and that Muslims account for 20 percent of the population instead of the actual four percent.

Over 55 percent of the population "believes that an area becomes degraded when there are many immigrants" and nearly 53 percent think that "the increase in immigrants fosters the spread of terrorism and criminality." The report underscores that over 48 percent Italians think that "if there is a lack of jobs, employers should be obliged to give jobs to Italians first."  

Some 65 percent "think that refugees are a burden since they enjoy social benefits," compared to 31 percent who say migrants "make the country stronger with their work and talents." Nearly 27 percent are against "are against the opening of synagogues, Orthodox churches and Buddhist temples near their homes." The percentage rises to 41.1 percent "when considering the opening of a mosque," the study says.

Nearly 30 percent foreigners in Italy say they have suffered discrimination while working or while seeking employment in the search for a home to buy or rent. According to the report, the internet and social mediahave been  "invaded by insults, vulgarity and defamation targeting immigrants," while racist websites "have increased exponentially in the last few years."

This pyramid of hatred "spreads quickly thanks to hostile language which has become ever more normalized,'' Chamber of Deputies Speaker and Jo Cox Commission chief Laura Boldrini said. "We must react before the wave of those bringing hate overwhelms us."