The Union of Barbed Wire

Alex Zanotelli
Combonian missionary, on behalf of the “Fasting of Justice in solidarity with migrants”

For more than three years now we have been demonstrating every first Wednesday of the month in front of the Italian Parliament for the Fasting of Justice in solidarity with migrants campaign. But this time, as the Rome Police Department did not authorize our demonstration, we were present on November 3 in front of the Prefecture of Naples from 5pm to 6.30pm, on behalf of those who will fast in their houses and monasteries.

Our hunger strike is a protest against the European and Italian racist policies towards migrants. This very month, it is a cry against the letter in which twelve European countries asked the European Union to finance the construction of an anti-migrant wall; they are: Estonia, Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Slovakia. Notwithstanding the EU’s refusal to grant their request, both Lithuania and Poland are building walls at their borders with Belarus. Greece, in addition to its maritime frontier alongside the Evros river, on the border with Turkey, announced the building of a new 2.7 km long maritime border between Turkey and Lesbos Island. Slovenia built a wall on the border with Croatia and Austria. Bulgaria will build a 235km long wall to stop migrants’ arrivals from Turkey. This is the Union of barbed wire, not the European Union!

How is it possible that more than 80% of the 82 million displaced people are given shelter in impoverished countries, while the rich West is building only walls?

But this month's fasting is also a solidarity gesture towards the thousands of refugees that have been protesting for about one month in Tripoli (Lybia), in front of the United Nations Office for refugees, asking for their evacuation from Libya to neighbouring countries. And we want to give voice to their cry of massive suffering. The tragedy of refugees in Libya is mostly the responsibility of Italy. This is due to the Italy-Libya Memorandum and to our financing of the Libyan Coast Guard that, in this very year, brought back in Libya more than 26.000 asylum seekers that attempted to flee by sea.

Our hunger strike, in addition, is also a sign of support for Mimmo Lucano, the victim of Locri’s court unfair sentence. We are calling for Mimmo’s acquittal since he only did good to both migrants and the Riace inhabitants, revitalizing that deserted Calabrian village.