Insaf Dimassi, a PhD student in Bologna, Italy, describes herself as "Italian without citizenship." This statement reflects her deep frustration and pain over not being recognized as a citizen of the country where she has lived since she was a baby. Insaf’s journey began when her father moved to Italy for work, and soon after, she and her mother joined him. Although her parents obtained Italian citizenship shortly after she turned 18, Insaf had to start her own application from scratch, which required her to prove she had a steady income.
Now, at 33, Insaf hopes to finally become an Italian citizen, but the wait has been long and challenging. She vividly recalls the moment she realized the weight of her "outsider" status. It happened when she was invited to run for election alongside a mayoral candidate in her hometown. Excited to share the news with her parents, she was quickly reminded that she was not eligible to participate due to her lack of citizenship.
Insaf raises a thought-provoking question: "What do I have to demonstrate to earn citizenship?" She feels that not being able to vote or be represented makes her invisible in her own community. This sense of exclusion is shared by many in her situation.
On the eve of a crucial referendum, students in Rome took to the streets to encourage participation. They spelled out a message on the cobblestones, urging people to vote "YES" on June 8th and 9th. However, with limited government support and little publicity, many fear that turnout will be low.
Sonny, a fellow advocate, believes that regardless of the referendum’s outcome, the conversation about the role of their community in Italy must continue. "Even if they vote ‘No’, we will stay here and think about the next step," he says. The push for change is just beginning, and many are determined to keep fighting for recognition and rights.