“We
have an obligation to understand better, because other European countries have
no tradition of emigration. How is it that we don't understand what others feel
here?”, asked Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in a class with secondary school
students, in Olhão, days after the attack on a Nepalese immigrant, by a group
of young people in the city.
The
case is being investigated by the PSP, which has already identified some of
those responsible.
Asked
by journalists about what led him to promote this initiative shortly after the
episode of violence, the President of the Republic replied: “It is precisely
when it occurs, and that is why I was so quick, that these issues must be
addressed. Because if it's three months, four months, five months, six months
from now, reality becomes trivial. And by trivialising, what cannot be
considered normal comes to be considered normal”.
Rejecting
the idea that Portugal is a xenophobic country, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa warned,
however, of the need for societies to remain vigilant, so that fear and
defensive attitudes towards immigration do not lead to xenophobic behaviour.
“[…]
The aging of European societies has created what I call fear, a reactive,
defensive attitude and, therefore, a rejection of difference, and from there xenophobia is a small step and one has to be attentive to that small step because
it means less democracy and even less respect for what our experience as a
country of emigrants is”, he underlined.
After
class at Escola Secundária Dr. Francisco Fernandes Lopes, in Olhão, Marcelo
Rebelo de Sousa went to the restaurant where the young Nepalese person who was
attacked on January 25 works.
A PSP source told Lusa that an investigation was underway to find out who were the perpetrators of the attacks and theft, who posted the video on social networks, and the circumstances in which they occurred.
I've living in portugal since 2019, so I'm pretty much experienced about xenophobia and racism in Portugal. Portuguese just pretend that they're not racist they're not xenophobic! But in reality, they're extremely racist. You'll experience their real attitude when they get drunk! Or the Portuguese who isn't educated, because you know and uneducated doesn't know how to pretend! As historically Portugal is not an attractive country for immigrants because of their poor economy and Portuguese are tended to immigrate to other countries, local Portuguese are not used to with foreigners like other rich countries general people!
By Milad from Lisbon on 06 Feb 2023, 22:40
Never mind immigrants trying to look after your own
By J from Lisbon on 07 Feb 2023, 07:38
Milad, in my experience, the 'educated' Portuguese are far worse than the non educated ones.
By Hart from Lisbon on 07 Feb 2023, 11:52
Here's an interesting idea, how about the immigrants have a better understanding of the customs , traditions, and the overall society of the country they are immigrating to so maybe just maybe they might be able to assimilate and still hold on to their own traditions and customs. If they have a problem with that then go somewhere else. Why should the host country have to change their entire society to accommodate the few?
By Tony B from USA on 07 Feb 2023, 18:53
Tony B. Sir nobody is asking no one to change their customs, traditions etc. if customs means hating foreigners, if culture means racism then I’ve no comment. And you should ask those governments (who’re attracting foreigners to come for slavery or work or…..!) for expelling those immigrants.
By Milad from Lisbon on 08 Feb 2023, 18:03
The Portuguese have the obligation to protest against the unregulated and uncontrollable economic immigration that particularly affects Lisbon.
By Diogo F. from Madeira on 10 Feb 2023, 22:41