ISLAMOPHOBIA REPORT

EUROPEAN ISLAMOPHOBIA REPORT 2015
the Muslim community and the rest of society. In this regard, it is worth noting that
95% of TV programming concerning religion is occupied by the Catholic faith,
leaving little room for other religions in the Italian Television schedule. 89 Equally,
the Muslim community have highlighted the lack of media interest in positive activities
involving Muslims. 90 In response to this situation, the UCOII (Unione delle
Comunità Islamiche d’Italia) asked the Italian Public Television Broadcaster R.A.I
(Radiotelevisione Italiana) to hire Muslim journalists, 91 including those who wear
the veil, in order to ensure diversity and multiculturalism. There has been a critical
reaction to this proposal from right-wing politicians. 92
Cyber-Space
During the period under review, the Anti-Muslim sentiment spread through new
media and technologies, such as social networking platforms and webpages, and
found fertile ground for its development.
In 2015, the controversial case of the Italian version of the “Stormfront” website
was still a topical issue. Although the Italian server of the website was blocked
in 2012, 93 the website is still accessible by users resident in Italy who are able to bypass
the existing restrictions, since the server is hosted in foreign countries. Several
people are currently being prosecuted for publishing messages inciting violence
and racial hatred. 94 Even if Jews and immigrants are the main target for this website,
messages inciting to hatred towards Muslims are also frequently posted. The
“Stormfront” case shows that effectiveness in combating racism on the internet is
mainly dependent on the authorities’ ability to undertake a trans-national action
involving countries where freedom of expression receives a quasi-absolute protection
95 (above all the United States).
89. Eleonora Bianchini, “La religione cattolica occupa il 95% dello spazio in tv. Anche grazie a Bergoglio”, Il Fatto
Quotidiano, 25 May 2015, http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2015/05/25/la-religione-cattolica-occupa-il-95-dello-spazio-in-tv-anche-grazie-a-bergoglio/1698717/.
90. For more details see “La voce dei musulmani e il mutismo dei media”, Partecipazione & spiritualità musulmana,
14 April 2015, http://www.psm-italia.it/la-voce-dei-musulmani-e-il-mutismo-dei-media/.
91. Andrea Indini, “Le mani degli islamici sulla Rai: “Assumere subito giornalisti musulmani”, Il Giornale, 14 March
2015, http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/mani-degli-islamici-sulla-rai-assumere-subito-giornalisti-1105096.
html.
92. “Rai, Ucoii propone cronista con velo islamico. Insorge il centrodestra. Daniela Santanché: “Idea fuori dal
mondo”, Huffington Post, 15 March 2015, http://www.huffingtonpost.it/2015/03/15/rai-cronista-velo-islamico-polemica_n_6872576.html.
93. “Oscurato il sito neonazista Stormfront, 4 arresti. Scovata una lista con i nomi di Fini e Riccardi”, Il Sole
24 ore, 16 November 2012, http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/notizie/2012-11-16/oscurato-sito-neonazista-stormfront-132505.shtml?uuid=AbkVeT3G.
94. For more information, see “Stormfront: rinviate a giudizio 25 persone”, Cronache di ordinario razzismo, 20 July
2015, http://www.cronachediordinariorazzismo.org/stormfront-rinviate-a-giudizio-25-persone/.
95. Stephanos Stavros, “Combating religious hate speech: lessons learned from five years of country-monitoring
by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)”, in Religion and Human Rights, 9, 2014,
145; ECRI, 4 th Report on Italy, 2012, 44, https://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/ecri/Country-by-country/Italy/
ITA-CbC-IV-2012-002-ENG.pdf).
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