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Flirting Ban Sparks Controversy for Italian Prison Guards Heading to Albania
Italian Prison Guards Warned: Steer Clear of Flirting with Albanian Locals Correctional officers preparing to staff new migrant centres in Albania have been issued a surprising warning: don’t flirt with local women. The directive, aimed at preventing cultural misunderstandings, has ignited political debate and spotlighted the entire migrant scheme.
Migrant Centers and Unexpected Guidelines
Forty-five male guards have been selected to work at a new migrant facility in Gjader, northern Albania, as part of a controversial Italy-Albania deal. During training, the guards received a manual with 14 behavioural guidelines covering everything from dress codes to dining etiquette. However, the manual’s warning against courting Albanian women has sparked outrage, with critics calling it “surreal.”
The manual cautions that Albania, especially its northern regions, holds conservative values. The advice to avoid flirting stems from concerns over potential conflicts with local men who may take offence to such actions. It also emphasised that Albanians are generally modest, advising the guards to avoid nudity and revealing clothing.
A Heated Political Debate
The guidelines have drawn intense criticism from the correctional officers’ union and political ots alike. Gennarino De Fazio, the union’s secretary-general, dismissed the manual as an overzealous and poorly vetted document, while former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi labelled it another “international gaffe.” Filiberto Zaratti, an MP from the Green Europe party, accused the government of “cultural racism,” arguing that the guidelines reinforce harmful stereotypes about Albanian society.
These migrant centres, part of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s strategy to curb migration from North Africa, have faced significant controversy and multiple setbacks. While the first centre in Gjader is slated to open soon, delays and legal challenges continue to plague the project. As controversy swirls, critics argue that the operation is becoming a ridiculous spectacle rather than a severe solution to Italy’s migration crisis. Italian Prison Guards Warned: Steer Clear of Flirting with Albanian Locals
