Italy PM condemns ‘barbaric’ attack that killed three Afghan refugees and Pakistani worker

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has vowed to bring those responsible to justice after three Afghan refugees and a Pakistani migrant worker were killed in what authorities describe as a brutal arson attack in southern Italy. Meloni said she was deeply shocked by the deaths and praised investigators for the swift arrest of two suspects. “Italy will not retreat in the face of violence and barbarity,” Meloni said, adding that uncovering the full circumstances of the crime and ensuring accountability remains a priority for her government. Italian prosecutors said the victims were trapped inside a vehicle that was allegedly set on fire near the town of Amendolara in the southern region of Calabria. The victims were identified as Afghan refugees Amin Afzal Khogyani, 28, Safi Ejad, 27, and Esmatullah Qayemi, 19, as well as Pakistani national Waseem Khan, 29. All four worked in the agricultural sector. According to Italian media and prosecutors, two Pakistani men, both aged 32, have been arrested on suspicion of murder. Investigators allege the suspects locked the workers inside a vehicle, poured fuel on it and set it ablaze after a dispute linked to labour conditions. A survivor, identified as Taj Mohammad, told local media he escaped by breaking a window and fleeing through the flames. He alleged that the workers had not been paid for more than a month and were forced to continue working under threats involving knives and firearms. The workers had reportedly refused to continue labouring without contracts and under exploitative conditions shortly before the attack. Alessandro D’Alessio, the prosecutor leading the investigation, described the case as one of the most horrific crimes he had encountered in three decades of legal work. The incident has renewed scrutiny of Italy’s long-standing problem of labour exploitation in the agricultural sector, particularly in southern regions where migrant workers often face poor working conditions, low wages and limited legal protection. Human rights groups and labour unions say thousands of migrant workers, including refugees from Afghanistan and asylum seekers from Asia and Africa, remain vulnerable to abuse by illegal recruitment networks known in Italy as the caporalato system. The tragedy comes as Europe continues to face growing migration pressures. Many Afghans who fled conflict, economic hardship and restrictions on rights in Afghanistan have sought protection and employment across Europe, often ending up in low-paid and insecure jobs. Italian trade unions estimate that more than 200,000 undocumented migrant workers are employed across the country, many in agriculture. Rights groups have called on Rome to address the root causes of labour exploitation rather than relying solely on criminal prosecutions after major incidents. The post Italy PM condemns ‘barbaric’ attack that killed three Afghan refugees and Pakistani worker appeared first on Khaama Press.