We present observations in the 0.1–100 keV spectral band of 8 Seyfert 2 galaxies , obtained by means of BeppoSAX .
These sources were selected according to their [ OIII ] optical emission line flux , to avoid biases against obscuration on the pc scale .
All sources were detected .
All of them are weak X–ray emitters , and most of them are characterized by prominent iron lines at 6.4–7 keV ( EW > 500 eV ) and by a flat continuum , indicative of heavy obscuration along our line of sight ( N _ { H } > 10 ^ { 25 } cm ^ { -2 } in most cases ) .
These results 1 ) provide further evidence in favor of the unified scenario , and 2 ) indicate that the average obscuration of type 2 AGNs is very likely much higher than deduced by former X–ray surveys .
These findings have important implications for the synthesis of the X–ray background .