https://arab.news/rkemf
- The video was filmed by a migrant in the reception center of Ciavolotta
- In the video,a policeman shouts at the migrant and slaps him in the face
ROME: A video showing a police officer slapping a Tunisian migrant and forcing others to slap each other as 鈥減unishment鈥� for trying to escape from a migrant reception center in Sicily has gone viral and sparked controversy in Italy.
Cecilia Baravelli, the prosecutor of Agrigento, a city in southern Sicily, has put the policeman under investigation. He was immediately suspended from service by the chief of the Italian police, Franco Gabrielli.
The video was filmed by a migrant in the reception center of Ciavolotta, on the outskirts of Agrigento. The policeman鈥檚 name has not been revealed by the authorities.
The migrants had arrived in Sicily illegally on a dinghy a few days ago. They were under quarantine in the reception center as part of COVID-19 containment measures.
In the video, the policeman shouts at the migrant, slaps him in the face and tells him: 鈥淵ou鈥檙e a guest and you have to respect the law.鈥�
Then the policeman turns to five more migrants, all coming from Tunisia, and tells them: 鈥淚f you really are men, now get on your knees and slap each other. Show me you have learned the lesson.鈥�
The policeman鈥檚 actions have been condemned by representatives of all political parties except for the anti-migrant League party, which has sided with him.
Jalel ben Belgacem, the Tunisian consul in Sicily鈥檚 capital Palermo, and social worker Jaballah El-Bkhairi went to the Agrigento police department to get information about the case.
鈥淭he consul 鈥� wanted to take action on an institutional level to acquire information,鈥� said the consulate鈥檚 lawyer Leonardo Marino. 鈥淲e had a very cordial first meeting with the police headquarter鈥檚 chief. We will now try to enter proceedings.鈥�