Lamenting 'erosion' of minority rights in Italy

The Italian government came under criticism last month for its handling of a wave of violence against migrant farm workers.

ROME, February 9, 2010 (AFP) - Amnesty International on Tuesday slammed what it called a "steady erosion" of minority rights in Italy as the country's record was under review by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

"There is a steady erosion of human rights, especially regarding migrants, minorities and possible asylum seekers," said the rights watchdog's Italian spokesman Riccardo Noury.

"There are worrisome laws and practices," he said on Italian radio.

Noury criticised security and anti-terrorism measures, in particular an accord between Italy and Libya that allows the Italian navy to intercept migrants at sea and return them to Libya with no possibility of applying for asylum.

Noury also mentioned "norms that are not there but should have been in place long ago, such as a law that establishes torture as a crime."

Italy took a sharp turn to the right in 2008 when conservative leader Silvio Berlusconi swept to power for a third time in coalition with the anti-immigration Northern League.

Their campaign emphasised pledges to fight illegal immigration and crime, often closely linking the two.

The Italian government came under criticism last month for its handling of a wave of violence against migrant farm workers in the southern town of Rosarno.

The clashes left dozens injured and prompted more than 1,000 immigrants to leave the area, most on special buses arranged by the Italian authorities.