Giorgia Meloni claims there is a 'higher incidence' of immigrants in rape cases in Italy before accepting 'now I will be called racist'

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has claimed that illegal immigrants are responsible for higher incidences of rape in Italy and that police presence in cities must be upped to make public spaces safer. But Riccardo Magi, leader of Italy's 'More Europe' party, has chastised Meloni's government for claiming the nation is seeing a rise in sexual violence due to illegal immigration as he declared the Interior Ministry's own figures suggested the overwhelming majority of rapes and femicide are committed by Italian citizens. Meloni acknowledged she would be labelled a racist for delivering the message so bluntly People take part in a rally ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in front of the Colosseum in Rome, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 People take part in a protest against patriarchal violence called by feminist group Non Una Di Meno prior to the 'International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women' in Rome, Italy, 23 November 2024 The row over gender-based violence is a hot topic in Italy at present. Riccardo Magi, leader of Italy's 'More Europe' party, has chastised Meloni's government for claiming the nation is seeing a rise in sexual violence due to illegal immigration as he declared the Interior Ministry's own figures suggested the overwhelming majority of rapes and femicide are committed by Italian citizens Women hold a banner as people from Non Una di Meno movement and feminist collectives take part in a protest ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in Rome, Italy, November 23, 2024 Women attend a rally to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024 The installation 'Wall of Dolls,' commemorating victims of gender-based violence, is on display on the facade of the Liguria region palace on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Genoa, Italy, 25 November 2024 This past weekend saw tens of thousands of people march in Rome on the eve of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women to protest gender-based violence, which in Italy so far this year has claimed the lives of 99 women, according to a report last week by the Eures think tank. Dominique Pelicot during his trial in which he is accused of drugging his wife Gisele Pelicot on November 25 Gisele Pelicot arrives at the criminal court in Avignon, France, 25 November 2024 Dominique Pelicot is accused of allowing multiple men to rape his wife while she was sedated 'Gisele Pelicot's state, close to a coma, should have raised the alarm,' said Ms Chabaud.