A horrific murder case in southern Italy has claimed the lives of four migrant workers, sparking renewed concerns about the exploitation of immigrant laborers in the country’s agricultural sector.
The victims were discovered Monday inside a charred van at a gas station in Amendolara, located in Italy’s southern Calabria region. Security footage captured two individuals igniting the vehicle before fleeing the scene.
Alessandro D’Alessio, the public prosecutor overseeing the case, described the unprecedented brutality to media on Wednesday. “In 30 years of work, I have never seen such cruelty,” he stated.
The lone survivor, Taj Mohammad Alamyar, recounted how the workers were being transported home by their two Pakistani supervisors following a day of strawberry harvesting. According to Alamyar, the supervisors stopped at the gas station but instead of filling up, they poured gasoline on the vehicle and ignited it after trapping the passengers inside. He managed to escape through the trunk.
“We started screaming, but they opened the back door and threw a lighter inside. In an instant, it was hell,” Alamyar told La Repubblica newspaper.
Roberto Occhiuto, who serves as Calabria’s regional president, emphasized that the incident should prompt serious reflection across Italy. “It is an appalling story, which shakes our consciences and raises profound questions about the tragedy of migration, the value of human dignity, and the responsibilities a civilised society must assume toward the most vulnerable,” he commented.
The exploitation of immigrant workers represents a persistent challenge throughout Italy, sometimes resulting in fatal outcomes. Data from the Placido Rizzotto Observatory think tank indicates that approximately 30% of agricultural workers operated without proper documentation in 2023.
In media appearances, the survivor appeared with bandaged hands and right arm. He identified three of the deceased as fellow Afghans, with the fourth victim being Pakistani.
Authorities from Castrovillari have taken two foreign nationals into custody on charges of multiple and aggravated murder. The suspects’ identities have not been released, and Reuters was unable to secure statements from them.
According to Alamyar, tensions arose between the fruit pickers and their supervisors over compensation disputes. The workers had been promised daily wages of €45 ($52) for eight-hour shifts but claimed they had not received any payment since April 20.
