39 cases of migrants being victims of torture and violence in Palermo in 10 months

Last Updated: November 27, 2023

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The article discusses the inhumane scenarios of intentional violence and torture experienced by migrants, including the use of atrocity such as “falaka”, female genital mutilation, rape, blunt force trauma, burns with electrical devices, and fractured bones. A total of 39 asylum seekers, including 6 women and 33 men, were visited at the trauma evaluation clinic in the Paolo Giaccone Hospital’s forensic medicine unit. The clinic provides specialized support and certification necessary for the refugee status recognition process. The clinic has conducted 300 evaluations since its establishment in 2018, with one-fifth of the cases involving minors who require specific support. The director of forensic medicine, Antonina Argo, also mentioned the cases of female genital mutilation, raped girls with unwanted pregnancies, and minors with uncertain sexuality who have fled due to family rejection. The majority of asylum seekers come from North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, and Bangladesh, with many passing through Libya, where the most brutal acts of torture are perpetrated.