Italians di Beppe Severgnini 
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BRESCIA
Mayor Installs No-Islam Signs: “Respect Us or Leave”
In Pontoglio, the council has put up new road signs, stating that theirs is a “Town with a history of Western culture and deep-rooted Christian traditions”. Town councillor: “I challenge anyone to say that it isn’t so”
After “no-gender ideology” messages on LED screens in the towns of Capriolo and Prevalle, a town in the province of Brescia has introduced “no-foreigners” road signs. Unconcerned with political correctness, townspeople have dubbed them “no-Islam” signs, a moniker that the council seems more than happy to accept. The episode took place in Pontoglio, a town in the west of the province of Brescia, governed by a centre-right coalition led by Alessandro Seghezzi. On Wednesday, the mayor, already under fire for having raised the price of the residential authorisation certificate to €425, a move which hit immigrants particularly hard, had a series of signs put up on roads leading into the town.
“Decision in line with council policy”
“Town with a history of Western culture and deep-rooted Christian traditions. Those who do not respect local culture and traditions are asked to leave”, reads one of the signs. The executive explained the move on the town’s official Facebook page as follows: “It is hereby announced that the Mayor and the City Council, under Resolution 168 of 30/11/2015, have decided to put up new road signs outlining Pontoglio’s history at points of entry into the town”. For the mayor, “the decision, in line with previous initiatives, implements the political agenda I set out when I took office. It is a request to respect local culture and traditions. This culture is based on mutual respect, regarding women, music, art, customs, and traditions. For us, respect for others is at the basis of civilization and liberty”.
Councillor talks of “cultural information”
The mayor’s views were echoed by Paolo Bocchi, a councillor in the governing majority: “There is nothing racist here; that’s just the way some people interpret it. This is historical information; this is our tradition. If someone wants to challenge this, and deny that Pontoglio has Christian traditions, let’s hear them. We are not interested in praise or criticism: the message on the sign is clear”. Will the council take the signs down as a result of the controversy? “Absolutely not; these are information signs and have nothing in common with those against gender ideology. In any case, every town council is free to do what it wants, and we have decided to provide cultural information”.
Deputy mayor of Brescia speaks out
The controversy has spread to social networks, with Laura Castelletti, deputy mayor of Brescia, posting the following message: “I thought I lived in a secular state, and was also convinced that there was no state religion in Italy. Nor was I aware that women could be listed as one of a country’s customs and traditions”.
English translation by Simon Tanner
www.simontanner.com
