Keeping the Criminality Myth Alive: Stigmatisation of Roma through the Italian Media
Keeping the Criminality Myth Alive: Stigmatisation of Roma through the Italian Media

Summary/Abstract: That Roma living in Italy face persistent discrimination in all aspects of their lives is not news. Whether they are Italian citizens or not, immigrants or refugees, Roma do not enjoy equal rights with the rest of the people living in Italy. This becomes obvious even by simply watching television and reading newspapers, which often involuntarily – but sometimes more willingly – help to perpetuate the negative stereotypes of Roma. I myself have witnessed on a number of occasions TV programmes (news reports but also very popular shows) which in one way or another made negative comments on Roma, reinforcing the stereotypical views of the rest of the Italian society. The purpose of this article is to provide the readers with a better understanding of the climate of intolerance surrounding Roma in Italy. Before going into the details of what I have come across, I will briefly point out the main national and international legal instruments that, if applied in good faith, can have an impact on the life of Roma in Italy. I will then move on to describe a recent show I saw on the Italian TV which inspired me to write a letter to one of the most popular web-forums of the country. Further, I will give an account of the outrageous comments on my letter that I have received, illustrating the attitude of the majority of Italians towards Roma.[...]

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