AIMA condemns “unacceptable” acts of violence against immigrants in Porto

The Agency for the Integration of Migrants and Asylum (AIMA) condemned and rejected this Monday the acts of violence against immigrants in Porto, classifying them as unacceptable and particularly serious if the motives of racial and xenophobic hatred are confirmed.

“AIMA reiterates that such actions are absolutely unacceptable in a democratic state based on the rule of law, based on the principles of equality, non-discrimination, intercultural and religious dialogue, and take on particular seriousness if the motivation of racial and xenophobic hatred is confirmed,” the agency said in a written response sent to Lusa.

AIMA adds that it has been monitoring the events since it became aware of them and in collaboration with the various organizations involved, namely criminal investigations, municipal, local, hospital and civil societies such as immigrant associations, in order to obtain reliable information and provide all necessary support within [suas] tasks”.

AIMA also states that it contacted the Porto City Council on Saturday in order to obtain additional information and facilitate concerted action.

According to the organization, “all organizations and society are therefore called upon to act with an unequivocal commitment to combat all situations of violence against people living in Portugal.”

“In addition to respecting the fundamental rights of all people, it is important to remember the essential contribution migrants make to the sustainability of our society, our culture, our demographics and our economy,” he adds.

Early on Friday morning, several immigrants were attacked in three different locations in the city of Porto, with at least two of the attackers receiving treatment at Sao Joao hospital.

In one case, the attack took place on the home of 10 immigrants on Rua do Bonfim, where a group of 10 men invaded.

Following the various attacks, six men were identified and one was arrested for possession of an illegal weapon, taken to court and remanded in custody pending trial.

The mayor of Porto said this Monday that the attack on migrants that occurred early on Friday morning is “unacceptable and a hate crime,” defending the disappearance of AIMA.

“The attack on a house where immigrants live in the parish of Bonfim in Porto is a hate crime that cannot in any way be relativized. This is an unacceptable attack,” said Rui Moreira at the beginning of the meeting of the municipal executive body.

Rui Moreira understood that this episode required “concrete action, great responsibility and rationality in the management of scarce public resources”, so he advocates the disappearance of AIMA and the use of the resources at its disposal so that municipalities can respond and strengthen the police. forces resources they do not currently have available to fight crime.

“I repeat, AIMA is a dysfunctional agency that is wasting public money without fulfilling its mandate and therefore must be dismantled,” he insisted.