A violent protest broke out at a migrant deportation center in Rome on Sunday after a 22-year-old man from Guinea hanged himself from the outside railing of his compartment. In Italy, there have been repeated riots in similar institutions in the recent past following personal tragedies.
The deceased left a message requesting that his body be returned to Africa. Fourteen people have been arrested in connection with the riots, judicial authorities said Monday.
The man had been held in the Ponte Galeria deportation center in Rome for months. His asylum application was still being examined, Italian media reported on Monday. “I miss Africa very much and so does my mother, she should not cry for me. Peace be with my soul. May I rest in peace,” his message continued.
Several emergency services were injured
The suicide led to a riot among the prisoners, in which two carabinieri and an army soldier were injured. Stones were thrown at security forces. The migrants tried to set a car on fire and break open a door. The riots were suppressed by the police with tear gas.
Facility repeatedly criticized
The protest led to political discussions. Left-wing opposition parties called for the closure of the facility, which has repeatedly been controversial due to its living conditions. “You don’t have to wait for studies to find out that places like the Ponte Galeria deportation center are completely inhumane. You don’t have to wait for the death of a teenager to be able to say clearly that these places must be closed immediately,” said Valentina Calderone, Rome’s guarantor of prisoners’ rights, who, together with MPs Cecilia D’Elia and Riccardo Magi, led the facility visited.
A major operation was underway on the grounds of the deportation facility:
“We are all shocked by the death of the young migrant. Living conditions in the detention center are very poor,” said D’Elia. Magi described Italy’s migrant deportation centers as “black holes of justice and humanity.”
There are always commotions and incidents
According to the officers, the young African had arrived from Sicily a few days ago from a reception center in Trapani, where he had been staying since mid-October. On Friday he was desperate. He cried and said he wanted to go back to Guinea because he had two brothers there to take care of, otherwise they would starve. He was inconsolable, some migrants said.
Protests also broke out on Saturday at a shelter in Gradisca d’Isonzo in Friuli Venezia Giulia after a migrant fell from the roof and ended up in hospital in serious condition. A few weeks ago, a reception center in Milo, Sicily, was destroyed by migrants. Last year, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi announced that a migrant deportation center would be built in each region. However, the list of locations has not been announced yet.
If you or someone close to you is in an exceptional psychological situation or suffers from suicidal thoughts, please contact the telephone advice service on 142. Other crisis hotlines and emergency numbers can be found HERE.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
