A 35-year-old Italian citizen and municipal councilor for tourism in Pieve di Soligo, Treviso, has been denied a rental home because his name, Mohammed Hammouch, revealed his Moroccan roots. Although he has lived in Italy since he was six months old, speaks the local dialect fluently, and is well-known in the community, the homeowner withdrew the offer once they discovered Hammouch's nationality, reports Italian news agency ANSA. The councilor had been searching for a larger home for his family, and a real estate agent found a suitable property in the same municipality. However, once the homeowner learned Hammouch's name, he allegedly refused to rent the property, stating, «I don't rent to Moroccans, you are all the same». Despite the discriminatory experience, Hammouch remains fond of Pieve di Soligo, calling it a beautiful place, though he labeled the incident as outright racism. «Pieve di Soligo is a wonderful place but it is true that these words hurt me», Hammouch told ANSA. «Unfortunately they cannot be defined in any other way than racist».
