Another violent act has been perpetuated against foreigners in Italy. Unknown individuals shot at a migrant reception center in the Sicilian provicine of Enna on last Wednesday night. No one was injured.
Four Bangladeshi youths just over 18 were sleeping last Wednesday night in a reception center run by the Don Bosco 2000 association in Sicily's Enna province when shots fired at the center smashed through the window of their room. The incident is only the latest of several against foreigners after the Macerata crime (https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/7379/migrants-scared-after- racist-attack-in-macerata). No one was injured. The bullets got stuck in the door, but the 'act of hatred' was, in the eyes of the head of the association, ''in line with the polemics across Italy''.
No forewarning of the act of violence
The youths had been hosted in the center for only four days with 16 others from the same country in a refugee reception center in Pietraperzia (Enna), a town of 7,000 inhabitants. Having recently arrived, they were trying to get settled and no previous incident that can have acted as a warning had occurred. ''We have been welcomed in an exceptional manner,'' said Agostino Sella, head of the Don Bosco 2000 association, which runs the center.
''The youths have met with the mayor, who took them around the city. We have also met with other associations with which we are working to plan integration activities.'' The association chief noted that the idea of opening a new reception center - the first in a city that played a major role during the tough years of the fight against the mafia - came to the fore in March. ''In a single day, 4,000 migrants landed,'' Sella said. ''And so, the bishop called us to accept our offer to manage the facilities offered to us. It seemed a good idea to bring the youths here to try to achieve true integration.'' But despite the best intentions, debate has opened in the country, Sella said, ''in line with the polemics raging across Italy. There are fringes of dissent, but we absolutely did not think that it could go this far.''
Concern in the town
The incident has worried the inhabitants of the agriculture-based town. ''Fortunately, no one was hit,'' Sella added. ''But the migrants are mortified and scared, as are those working for us.This violent, intimidating gesture has left us speechless and is probably the result of a climate generated by those exploiting the migration issue for political clashes. But in Pietraperzia we are working in agreement with many associations and local communities, with parishes and many common people with whom we have created constructive dialogue. In recent days, many citizens have come to give solidarity and help to the youths and volunteered to help us with integration activities. We are continuing our work in migrant reception, certain that good will triumph over evil in the end.''