Il diritto di morire. Un approccio impegnato allo studio dei riti funebri delle minoranze in Italia

Abstract

This article explores the denial of religious freedom in the context of funerary practices among religious minorities in Italy. Despite constitutional guarantees, many communities – including Sikhs, Bahá’ís, Buddhists, Pagans, and others – face significant obstacles in performing funeral rites according to their traditions. These limitations not only hinder the mourning process, with consequences for the psychological and emotional well-being of the bereaved, but also undermine broader processes of social integration. In many cases, families are forced to repatriate the deceased, further disconnecting communities from the spaces they inhabit.
The research draws on direct collaboration with various religious groups and reveals the deep inadequacy of Italian funeral legislation, much of which dates back to the Fascist era or has remained unchanged since the 1990s or early 2000s. In response to the challenges identified, the author founded NIMO APS, a nonprofit association dedicated to death and mourning from an intercultural and interreligious perspective. NIMO works to raise awareness, provide education, and create spaces for dialogue between minority communities, institutions, and policy makers. Beyond these efforts, the association aims to play a crucial role in advocating for legislative reforms that support the full integration of these communities within the Italian social and legal framework.