Teacher Flees After Faking Racist Attack

Source: The Hindustan Times, http://www.hindustantimes.com, October 24th 2000

Teacher Flees After Faking Racist Attack

Rory Carroll in Rome

ITALY’S ANTI-RACISM campaigners have been left reeling by a teacher who faked an assault by neo-Nazis. Luis Marsiglia, a Jewish convert to Catholicism, fled to South America on Sunday after admitting he fabricated an attack which shocked the country and fuelled fears of swelling anti-Semitism.

The centre-right opposition demanded an apology from those who accused it of fostering racism with xenophobic rhetoric. Mr Marsiglia, who taught theology at Verona’s elite Maffei secondary school, dominated the headlines last month after reporting that he had been ambushed by three youths wielding iron bars. Cut and bruised, the Uruguay-born teacher had suggested that his assailants were pupils unleashed by colleagues.

He said: “The gang were shouting things in support of Jörg Haider. They screamed: You’re a dirty Jew, get out of Verona.” He added that a swastika had been painted on his door and showed investigators anti-Semitic icons allegedly sent to him as part of a hate campaign.

The ruling centre-left coalition blamed opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi for rising racism by making an issue of race and immigration. “The centre right should examine its conscience,” said Pierluigi Castagnetti, leader of the Italian Popular Party.

Investigators exposed the deception this week-end. Mr Marsiglia, 43, admitted beating his legs with a piece of wood and scratching his arms with an iron bar.

His lawyer Guariente Guarienti said the teacher was distraught at the prospect of losing his job after failing to provide evidence of his qualifications.