Feature: Sympathetic or not toward refugees, Italians watch unfolding migrant crisis closely

Standing before the Hungarian embassy in Rome late on Monday, five school-aged girls held a placard reading "No one chooses to be a refugee".

As many as three hundred people were gathered around them, also holding banners and chanting pro-migrant slogans.

As European Union (EU) leaders are due to meet this week to try to overcome bitter divisions over relocating some 120,000 refugees, Italians have been paying close attention to how the crisis has unfolded in Balkan and central European countries in recent weeks.

Media coverage has been wide and continuous, and many people seemed outraged at the treatment of the hundreds of thousands trying to flee to Europe, especially by Hungarian authorities.

"We don't like Hungary's stance, and the whole situation as it is now," 17-year-old Sofia, one of the five young demonstrators, told Xinhua.

"Being born in a privileged country like ours is luck. We have no right to prevent other people from building their own future, just because they were not as lucky as we are," Sofia added.

Several civil society groups, volunteers from a nearby migrant reception center, and citizens of all ages joined the protest to express their frustration at how the crisis was being addressed.

They asked for a common European asylum system, the end of Dublin Regulation, under which asylum seekers must register in the EU country where they arrive first, and more legal channels of migration.

"I am shocked at seeing how the whole issue is being handled," Gabriella Nocchi told Xinhua.

"People must be given legal and safe ways to come (to Europe), no matter whether they are asylum seekers or economic migrants. Hunger is just as dangerous as war," she added.

The woman was highly critical of Hungary's tough attitude towards refugees.

"These countries (in central Europe) have been welcomed in the EU when their economic situation was dire ... How can they now treat other people in need so badly?" she wondered.

Some activists were barefoot in a show of solidarity with migrants. Others held banners reading "I am a refugee, arrest me", "Refugees welcome", and "Stay human".

Some also cried "Shame, Shame" towards the Hungarian embassy, whose doors were closed and guarded by police.

Not all Italians have sympathized with the refugees' struggle, of course. Many said EU countries have the right to close their borders, Italy included.

Social media and TV talk shows were flooded with angry remarks against migrants, and against those supporting their plea to enter Europe.

Some local authorities opposed the central government's plan to relocate refugees across Italy's regions and cities, especially in northern provinces ruled by anti-immigration Northern League party.

Rome's suburbs have also seen violent protests recently, with local residents fighting police to stop the arrival of migrants at a refugee center in their area.

Italy has faced an increasing migration inflow from across the Mediterranean Sea since 2011, up to 170,000 arrivals in 2014, and 128,000 so far this year, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

The issue proved a very divisive one, and yet the country overall showed equanimity. Many times, citizens stepped in to fill the gap of the state's hospitality.

But it was hard to say whether Italians were now more fearful or sympathetic.

"I would say their mood is fluctuating," said protester Stefano Corradino with the association of journalists Article 21.

"But opinion polls show the most outspoken anti-immigration party, the Northern League, has not gained support recently, and this is encouraging."

Much would depend on how media cover the crisis, and that was a reason for the association to join the demonstration.

"How media defines people fleeing into Europe matters, if they call them immigrant, refugee, or clandestine, for example ... The terms we use impact greatly on Italians' perception of this crisis," the journalist explained.

Rather than news or media debate, personal experience was what brought them here.

"There was this guy of about 20 (at a reception center), who managed to get to Italy after failing to escape Eritrea twice," Sofia said.

"He tried to pass the French border and was pushed back. Then he got to France, but in Calais they sent him back to Italy. He tried in Germany, with the same result ... Despite all this, he kept his smile."

Sofia said she helped him mend his feet, and was most touched.

"They were so badly damaged. I wondered how long and hard his road must have been so far." Endit